CarePlus Pharmacy offers support in advance of upcoming allergy season
With pollen counts beginning to rise for the first time this year, CarePlus Pharmacy have issued advice to people who are concerned about the overlap of symptoms between hay fever and Covid-19.
Hay fever sufferers may experience an increase in symptoms this month as the temperatures increase and the pollen count creeps up. People who suffer annually from hay fever problems should seek advice from their local community pharmacist now, to help learn the difference between symptoms.
Common symptoms for hay fever include;
- Itchy eyes
- Sneezing
- Scratchy throat
- Runny nose
Should people experience any Covid-19 symptoms such as fever, persistent cough, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath or flu-like symptoms, they need to contact their GP immediately and not visit a pharmacy.
Tomás Conefrey from CarePlus Pharmacy on Pearse Street in Dublin says, “This year, a lot more people are concerned that their allergy symptoms might be a sign of Covid-19. While there are some similarities between the symptoms of hay fever and Covid-19, your local pharmacist or GP can help distinguish between the two. However, hay fever sufferers should use this time to prepare.”
It is estimated that one in five Irish people live with hay fever. If you are experiencing symptoms but are not quite sure if it is hay fever or something else, CarePlus also offers a helpful guide showing which symptoms come under which condition. This can be found athttps://www.careplus.ie/wellness/315-hayfever-vs-covid-19-vs-common-cold-symptoms.
Tomás Conefrey says “Small actions can make the biggest difference in easing your hay fever symptoms. Putting vaseline around your nostrils can help trap pollen, while wearing wraparound sunglasses can protect your eyes. Showering and changing your clothes after you’ve been outside also helps to wash the pollen off”.
Tomás Conefrey also suggests speaking to your local pharmacist about the best over- the-counter treatments available for hay fever. He says “Depending on your symptoms these can include antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays. These products can really help with itchy and watery eyes as well as sneezing and a blocked nose”.
ABOUT CAREPLUS PHARMACY
CarePlus is a network of franchised pharmacies, owned and managed by Community Pharmacists, with the aim of providing a superior pharmacy experience in a friendly local environment. The group continues to grow and now operates in over 60 key locations around Ireland. For further information on CarePlus Pharmacy, visit www.careplus.ie
