When you woke up this morning were you sneezing? Or did you have a blocked nose, a sore throat, red or watery eyes, or an aching head?
If so, you probably thought you were coming down with a summer cold – some viruses are more common in summer than in winter because we tend to socialise and travel more.
However, it may not be a cold that is making you feel under the weather, you may be suffering from hayfever. Also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, it is easy to mistake for a cold because both conditions share common symptoms such as sneezing and nasal congestion.
Hayfever, an allergic response to pollen, a fine powder that comes from flowers, grass plants, and trees, affects one on four people, according to pharmacist Barra Nevin of Nevin’s Pharmacy in Roscam and a local representative for the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU ).
Children over seven years are most affected, he says. “Boys seems to get it more than girls but this levels out during adulthood. Symptoms can also become less in adulthood but [people of] any age can get hayfever for the first time.”
Sneezing, coughing, a runny or blocked nose, and itchy, red, or watery eyes are some of its commonest symptoms. Others include an itchy throat, mouth, nose, and ears, loss of smell, pain around the sides of the head and forehead, or feeling tired.
Hayfever season generally occurs between late March and September and tends to be worse when the weather is warm, windy, and humid, he says. This is when pollen counts tend to be highest. Tree pollen typically triggers symptoms in spring followed by grass and weed pollen throughout the summer months.
Warmer summers and rising global temperatures are resulting in longer and more intense pollen seasons and are contributing to a worsening of hayfever. New international research indicates these changes are already contributing to increasing rates.
“Climate change and warmer summers are contributing to increased hayfever, says Mr Nevin. “Recent research, including in the 2026 edition of the Lancet Countdown, [an international academic collaboration that independently tracks the connections between public health and climate change] shows that climate change is extending the pollen season, exposing sufferers to higher pollen levels for longer than in the past.”
Risk factor
As people may experience symptoms earlier and for longer this year, the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU ) is encouraging those who are prone to seasonal allergies to take early steps to manage their symptoms and seek advice from their local pharmacist.
Hayfever acts as a risk factor for the development of asthma with about 10 to 40 per cent of sufferers eventually developing the condition, says the pharmacist.
“Conversely, patients with persistent asthma should also be evaluated for allergic rhinitis as 80 per cent of asthmatics have hayfever. Poorly controlled hayfever symptoms may trigger an asthma attack.
“Asthma patients should ensure they have an up-to-date prescription for their inhalers, use them as prescribed, and carry them at all times.”
While there is no cure for hayfever, pharmacists say that early treatment and practical prevention measures can make a significant difference in both controlling symptoms and maintaining quality of life. The IPU says many people wait until their symptoms become severe before seeking help. However, starting treatment early can greatly reduce the impact of hayfever.
A range of effective treatments is available directly from pharmacies, including antihistamine tablets, nasal sprays, and eye drops. Antihistamines stop the release of the chemical histamine and usually relieve symptoms such as a runny nose, itching, and sneezing. Nasal sprays treat sneezing, itchy, runny noses and eyes as well as congestion and other hayfever symptoms. Eye drops provide soothing relief for itchy eyes affected by the condition.
Mr Nevin says community pharmacists can advise people on the most appropriate options based on individual symptoms and other health conditions.
“If your symptoms are getting worse or do not improve after taking these treatments, pharmacists now have more options than ever to support patients with the introduction of the Common Condition Service. This allows pharmacists to assess and manage allergic rhinitis and, where appropriate and safe to do so, to prescribe prescription-only treatments.”
Simple tips for managing hayfever
Apply Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen and prevent inhalation.
Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen from entering your eyes and splash them with cold water to flush out pollen and soothe them.
Avoid mowing grass and working in the garden.
Wash your hands, face, and hair if you have been outside for an extended period. Change your clothes because pollen can cling to skin, hair, and clothing. Showering and changing your clothes after coming indoors can help remove those allergens. Showering at night before bed is a good idea because it will ensure they do not end up in your bed.
Monitor the pollen forecast and stay indoors during high pollen periods, typically in the morning and evening.
Use a pollen filter in your car and a HEPA filter in your vacuum cleaner.
Keep windows and doors closed in your house when the pollen count is high.
Ensure your car is pollen-free by keeping the windows closed. You can buy pollen filters for the air vents in your car which may be helpful.
Do not exercise outside when pollen levels are high and wear a cycling mask when cycling.
Avoid drying clothes outdoors because pollen spores may cling to them.
Minimise contact with pets that have been outside because pollen can linger on their fur. Seek out a non-allergy sufferer in your home and ask them to give your dog or cat a quick rub-down with a damp cloth before they come indoors. They may not like this though!
Discuss hayfever treatments with your pharmacist or GP.
Asthmatics should make sure they have a personalised Asthma Action Plan. This is a personal guide to managing your asthma when it gets out of control. You can make this plan, which includes information on your medicines and how to take them, how to control your symptoms, what to do if you have an asthma attack, how to know if your symptoms are getting worse and what to do, and emergency contact information, with your GP.
Dust your house with a damp cloth rather than a dry one. A damp cloth will pick up dust particles easier and it will not spread them around the house.
Vacuum regularly. Keep all surfaces, floors, and carpets as dust-free as possible. Ideally, pass on this and the previous chore to someone in the house who is not a hayfever sufferer. If that is not possible, wear a dust mask and gloves while cleaning to help reduce your contact with allergens.
Thick-pile carpets can trap dust and pollen particles. If you are choosing carpets for your home, select low-pile weave ones. Or opt for easy-to-clean flooring such as tiles, laminates, vinyl, or polished wood floorboards. They are easier to keep pollen-free.
Aim to get a good night’s sleep. Your symptoms may feel worse when you are tired.
Check the pollen forecast daily for your home or work location or where you plan to spend most of the day.
Avoid using mascara because pollen can stick to it.
Do not put fresh flowers in your home or workplace.
Avoid going out after a thunderstorm because pollen levels are often high at this time.
Minimise clutter in your home because it will collect dust and pollen.
Use a fan to keep you cool on sunny days rather than opening your windows.
