Which hayfever remedy is best?
Take our quick 4 question test to find out which hayfever remedy is best for you
Take the test now!The ‘hayfever season’ normally begins when trees release their pollen in the late spring but it usually peaks around June and July when grass also disperses its pollen. This can be very frustrating for children, as their activities are often dictated by their hayfever symptoms and the pollen count outside. However, hayfever does not need to restrict your child’s physical and emotional development during this time. There are a number of creative and easy ways to keep your children active during the hayfever season.
It can be frustrating for parents during the long summer months, when the pollen count is at its peak. Our social calendars become dominated by invitations to summer barbeques, garden parties and picnics at the park, all of which can seem like an annual bush tucker trial if your child suffers from debilitating episodes of hayfever.
Hayfever, or allergic rhinitis, typically emerges in children around the age of seven1 and brings with it a whole host of unpleasant symptoms, from congestion to fits of coughing. At the best of times, hayfever symptoms can be difficult to manage, but when your child is off school and sulking restlessly around the house between bouts of sneezing and sniffling, it can be both extremely exasperating and heart-breaking.
If you have children, you are probably aware of how much they enjoy being bored, particularly when their friends are out and about, having fun without them. Young children particularly need to be active, and it has been shown that regular exercise can in fact be beneficial when combatting hayfever symptoms.2
Nevertheless, when your child suffers from hayfever it can be difficult to determine what activities will won’t inflame their symptoms and you might feel tempted to veer on the side of caution and avoid the great outdoors altogether. There are other options though that can keep your children occupied, mentally stimulated and physically active.
1http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/hayfever/Pages/Hayfeverandchildren.aspx
2 http://www.allergydefence.co.uk/pdf/care-hayfever-sport-report2.pdf
Planning trips to the beach can be a brilliant alternative to getting ice cream at the park or taking drives around the countryside. The pollen count is normally higher inland and correspondingly lower around coastal areas, meaning that your child will be less likely to experience a flare up in their hayfever symptoms.
The beach can also provide hours of fun, from splashing in the ocean to building sandcastles by the sea. It also provides an opportunity for your child to socialise with their friends in a seasonal location, making them feel like less of an outcast.
If you plan on hitting the beach, it is important to remember to pack a few crucial items of luggage.
When nature decides to go on the offensive, it might be worth taking a trip somewhere less exposed. Chances are you live within driving distance of a local museum or science centre that you’ve never visited before. Now might be a good time to start, especially if the museum is kid-friendly and packed full of interactive exhibits.
Museums can inspire a child’s sense of curiosity, particularly if they happen to be interested in a particular topic or scientific subject like space. If your child is going through an ‘astronaut’ phase then take them to a nearby observatory or if they’re interested in dinosaurs, try to find a museum that will provide a fascinating look a prehistoric life. Not only will it keep your child’s mind active but it might also stimulate new interests and further psychological development.
If your child’s symptoms are too severe or the pollen count is too high, having them run around outside is sometimes just not a feasible option.
Rather than having them lounge in front of the television, it might be worth investigating your local recreation centre. If you live somewhere like Scotland, then the chances are that your leisure centres are more orientated around indoor sports than outdoor activities, which can be an unexpected boon when it comes to keeping your children active as they can offer a wide range of physical and child-friendly activities, such as:
Regularly encouraging your child and their friends to visit the local leisure centre will inspire them to socialise and exercise in a same and relatively pollen free environment. Your child will have the chance to develop their skills in an activity of their choosing, as well as improving their overall health and wellbeing.
If you want your child to discover a more exciting and invigorating world of sport then you can always try to introduce them to water sports. Water sports can work well for children suffering from hayfever as it can take them away from high pollen environments and provide them with a fun way of exercising outdoors.
Almost all water sports require a basic level of swimming but if your child is a capable swimmer then this shouldn’t hold them back.
It might sound risky but there are a number of outdoor sports that remain suitable for hayfever sufferers. Not all physical activity has to take place surrounded by fields, so it might be worth considering exercising in places that have a low pollen count, such as on higher ground or moorland.
Arts and crafts are a time honoured way of spending time with your child and keeping them mentally active. Although normally reserved for rainy days, if your child is too bogged down by symptoms to go outside, it can be a good way of keeping them active indoors, educating them about a particular skill, and giving them a sense of accomplishment.
It would be almost impossible to list all of the different activities that you can try and do with your child but here are a few of the more popular choices:
If you feel that your child’s hayfever symptoms are severe enough to be damaging their overall quality of life, then it might be worth checking out our Hayfever and Children blog, where our experts discuss the best ways of reducing your child’s hayfever symptoms, including the use of natural solutions such as Pollinosan Hayfever Tablets.
Pollinosan tablets are made using seven different types of herbs and are specifically aimed at treating all common hayfever symptoms. They can be taken by children over the age of twelve and unlike many types of anti-histamine, Pollinosan Is a non-drowsy solution.
Pollinosan tablets can also be taken in conjunction with Pollinosan Luffa Nasal Spray, which works cleanse the nasal passages of pollen and other allergens. Unlike Pollinosan tablets, Pollinosan nasal spray can be taken by children from the ages of six upwards. If your child is under the age of twelve, then it might be worth considering our Luffa Complex Tincture which can be taken by children over the age of two.
We've got lots of great pollen information for your local area on our website, including a 5-day pollen count forecast, pollen hotspots to avoid and hayfever-friendly activities to do around your city.
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A.Vogel Pollinosan Hayfever Eye Drops contain hyaluronic acid (from vegetable source) and can be used for quick relief of red and itchy eyes due to hayfever. Suitable for contact lense users.
To find local independent stores in your area that sell A.Vogel Pollinosan Hayfever Eye drops, simply type your postcode below.
Take our quick 4 question test to find out which hayfever remedy is best for you
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