WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO TREAT MY ASTHMA AND HAY FEVER?

Treating asthma and hay fever is important. The best way to reduce their impact on your life and wellbeing is to take the steps you need to get them both under control. 

Hay fever can trigger asthma or make it worse, making it harder to breathe. 

Having both asthma and hay fever also means you may risk of thunderstorm asthma. Learn more about asthma and hay fever here. 

Hay fever is sometimes called ‘allergic rhinitis’ because it is an allergic condition. People often use several strategies to manage their asthma and allergies. 

This usually includes: 

  • If you get hay fever year-round, this means your treatment needs to be year-round.  
  • Speak to your doctor about your treatment options to make sure you have the best treatment for your situation and the severity of your symptoms. 
  • If cost is an issue, ask your doctor or pharmacist if there are cheaper options that are suitable for you. 
  • Checking you are using your asthma and hay fever medicines correctly 

Watch video: how to use nasal spray

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  • Being aware of your hay fever and asthma triggers and trying to reduce your exposure to them. 

HOW DO I TREAT HAY FEVER?

Treatment of hay fever depends how bad and how frequent your symptoms are. The good news is, there is a huge range of different treatments available ranging from tablets to sprays, and generic to brand names.

ANTIHISTAMINES

Antihistamine tablets, syrups, nasal sprays, and eye-drops are the most common choice for people with mild or occasional hay fever. They help to relieve a runny nose, sneezing, itching and eye symptoms. They are less effective in treating a blocked nose.

Many antihistamines are available over the counter at your pharmacy.

The advantage of antihistamines is their flexibility, as you can take them when you have problems, and avoid them when you are well.

Some things to consider about using antihistamines are:

  • Antihistamine tablets aren’t recommended for long term daily use for persistent symptoms.
  • Antihistamines treat the symptoms of hay fever but not the cause – the underlying sensitivity in the nose. To treat the underlying cause – ask your doctor or pharmacist if a corticosteroid nasal spray is right for you.
  • Most people should avoid the types of antihistamines that can make you drowsy. Newer ‘non-sedating antihistamines’ are less likely to make you drowsy and are usually a better choice.
  • Some antihistamines aren’t safe to take during pregnancy, so check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

CORTICOSTEROID NASAL SPRAYS

Corticosteroid nasal sprays are the best-practice treatment if your hay fever is: 

  • persistent – you get symptoms nearly every day (e.g. during the pollen season)
  • moderate or severe (symptoms affect daily life), even if symptoms don’t occur every day. 

They work to reduce the underlying swelling and sensitivity in your nose (just like your asthma preventer medicines reduce the swelling and redness in your lungs). They can reduce all symptoms of hay fever, particularly blocked nose but need to be taken regularly to work properly. 

For seasonal hay fever, starting treatment before the pollen season begins can help reduce symptoms. Intranasal corticosteroid sprays work best when started early and used regularly throughout the season.  

Some corticosteroid nasal sprays are available over the counter at your pharmacy and come in different strengths. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about which corticosteroid nasal spray is best for you. 

As with all medicines, it is important to use them correctly, so the medicine gets where it needs to. Correct spray technique will also help you avoid damaging the lining of your nose with the nozzle. 

Some corticosteroid nasal sprays are available over the counter at your pharmacy and and come in different strengths. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about which corticosteroid nasal spray is best for you.

As with all medications, it is important to use them correctly, so the medicine gets where it needs to. Correct spray technique will also help you avoid damaging the lining of your nose with the nozzle.

COMBINATION NASAL SPRAYS

Some people with moderate to severe hay fever may need both an antihistamine and a corticosteroid to help manage their symptoms. A combination nasal spray contains both treatments in one spray. When used correctly, these sprays can help reduce symptoms such as a blocked, itchy or runny nose and sneezing.  

Combination nasal sprays are usually considered when symptoms are not well controlled with a single treatment.  

They should be used as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. Some combination nasal sprays are available on prescription and others may be available from a pharmacy. If hay fever symptoms continue to affect your sleep, daily activities or asthma, speak with your healthcare professional about the treatment options that may be right for you. 

SALINE SPRAYS/IRRIGATION

Saline solutions can be used to help clear nasal congestion, wash away dust, pollen, and other irritants. They have the potential to relieve some mild hay fever symptoms. They should be used about 10 – 15 minutes before other medicated nasal sprays. 

Saline washes and sprays are available preservative-free and may be preferable for those with sensitive noses. 

Saline does not reduce the underlying sensitivity in your airway or directly relieve symptoms. They are simple and chemical free.

TIPS FOR USING NASAL SPRAYS

  • Shake the bottle before each use
  • Blow nose before spraying if blocked by mucus
  • Tilt head slightly forward and gently insert nozzle into nostril
  • Aim the nozzle slightly away from the middle of the nose in line with the roof of the mouth
  • Press down the nozzle to spray but avoid sniffing hard during or after spraying

You can watch our nasal spray technique video here:

SHORT-TERM ADDITION OF DECONGESTANTS

Decongestant nasal sprays or tablets are used to unblock the nose. They should not be used for more than a few days at a time. If you continue to experience symptoms you should speak to your doctor about alternatives. 

If your blocked nose is due to hay fever allergies, there may be other options better suited. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about what would work best for you. 

ALLERGEN IMMUNOTHERAPY

Allergen Immunotherapy can switch off your body’s reaction to certain allergic triggers. It uses gradual exposure, over several years. It may come in the form of an injection or as tablets, sprays or drops under the tongue (sublingual). 

The aim of this treatment is to desensitise the immune system to the known allergen so that it no longer overreacts to that allergen. Benefits can be experienced within months after starting treatment, but the full course of treatment will usually be 3-5 years. The end result is that you become immune to the allergens, so that you can tolerate them with fewer or no symptoms. 

Allergen immunotherapy may be recommended for treatment of hay fever due to pollen or dust mite allergy if: 

  • Your symptoms are severe. 
  • The trigger is difficult to avoid, such as grass pollen. 
  • Medicines don’t help or they cause side effects. 
  • You prefer to avoid regular medicines. 

Speak to your doctor for more information about immunotherapy or desensitisation. It is likely you will need to be referred to an allergy specialist before starting treatment. 

Watch a quick explainer video on allergy immunotherapy here. 

 

Allergen immunotherapy needs you to be able to commit long-term (3-5 years) to work and it is currently not subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). You may also need to consider the cost of appointments with a specialist, and travel to these as required. However, the results of a full course of treatment should be long-lasting or permanent, so you may save money on allergy treatments in the long run.

OTHER TIPS FOR PEOPLE WITH HAY FEVER

We recommend going to your doctor or pharmacist if you are experiencing any symptoms of hay fever. 

Be sure to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant, have other medical conditions, take other medicines, or experience nose bleeds. 

If your hay fever affects your asthma a lot, it may be worth asking your doctor for an allergy test. An allergy test will help you and your doctor pinpoint your triggers and adjust treatments and lifestyle advice to suit. 

By finding out the cause, you can then take on other strategies to help in addition to your treatment. This includes things like: 

  • removing dust traps in the home like old curtains, carpets, and cleaning with damp cloths 
  • washing linen and bedding more frequently 

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