Health & fitness
BREATHE EASIER
Hayfever sufferer Michelle Rushton gets some expert advice from Dr John Blakey on managing her condition, which is not to be sneezed at WITH the summer finally here, many of us will be struggling with a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, and watering eyes. Dr John Blakey, consultant in respiratory medicine at Aintree University Hospital, shares some advice about managing hayfever. He says: “Think about when you get symptoms – it might not be hayfever. “Hayfever and related problems affect hundreds of millions of people of all ages across the world. Hayfever is seasonal because it is caused by pollen. However, many people have symptoms all year, or just when they encounter certain triggers, such as flour or cats.”
Try to avoid triggers
GAME ON AT NEW SOCCER CENTRE FOOTIE fanatics will be pleased to learn that the pitches at the new Prescot Soccer and Leisure Centre are set to open on July 15. The centre will offer state-of the art third generation (3G) pitches which have all the characteristics of playing on grass. Whether you manage a junior team, want to be part of a league, or just fancy a kickabout with your workmates, it will have everything you need from seven five-a-side pitches, which are fully surrounded by rebound boards to ensure that the ball is always in play, to a full-sized astro-turf pitch for 11-a-side matches. Prescot Soccer and Leisure Centre also boasts floodlit pitches, free on-site parking, a fitness suite, changing facilities and a fully licensed bar and cafe which will open in October. Councillor Eddie Connor, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Community and Culture, says: “Knowsley has a great footballing pedigree, having produced some of the country’s top players, and we hope this facility will help to develop future football stars, as well as providing local residents with a fun and affordable way to keep fit.” The centre will be open every day and pitches are available to book now. Call 0151 443 2200 or visit www.activeknowsley.com for more information.
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BEST OF LIVERPOOL
Avoiding whatever sets off your symptoms seems logical but can be very difficult. Simple measures such as keeping the windows in your car closed can be helpful. It is often more helpful to focus on avoiding general irritants such as cigarette smoke and cold air; these will set off hayfever during the pollen season as the nose and eyes are already inflamed.
Go out in the morning Try to spend most time outdoors in the morning as pollen counts are higher in the afternoon and evening.
Save your money Potentially expensive items like home air filters or special mattress covers aren’t particularly helpful. ‘Allergy’ vacuum cleaners haven’t been shown to be any more effective than normal ones.
Hayfever is treatable The great majority of people with hayfever will gain control of their symptoms with simple treatments. These treatments also reduce the risk of long term permanent damage inside of the nose and sinuses if taken regularly. Newer treatments such as immunotherapy are available for people with difficult to control symptoms.
Don’t use decongestants Decongestant sprays might make you feel better for a little while but the benefit you get will be less each time you use them. When you stop using the decongestant, the problem will return but worse than before.
Spray don’t sniff! To reduce the side effects of treatment, many drugs are given directly into the nose using a spray. The commonest cause of a treatment not working is that the user has been sniffing when spraying the medicine; this draws the medicine into the back of the throat. The result is that the nose is no better but you have a sore throat.
Hayfever often causes a cough Runny noses don’t just run forwards, mucus will drip down the back of your throat. This irritates the voice box and causes coughing. Hayfever and related conditions are responsible for at least a third of cases of longstanding daily cough.
Treating hayfever is very important in asthma People with hayfever are more likely to have asthma than the general population. Hayfever also makes it more likely that someone will pick up a viral infection. Having a viral infection and hayfever means you are almost 20 times more likely to be admitted to hospital for asthma than someone who has asthma but no hayfever. Commonly used treatments for hayfever include: Nasal washes: Special nasal wash kits (often with saltwater) can be helpful to some people and are worth trying if you have mild symptoms and don’t want to take medicines Corticosteroids, eg. fluticasone spray: These are the main effective treatments for hayfever. They do take a while to work so don’t give up if you don’t feel better after a week. Must be taken regularly. Antihistamines, eg. cetirizine tablet: Good for itch and sneezing. Cheaper over the counter than on prescription. Best taken regularly. Anticholinergics, eg. Ipratropium spray: Can help if a runny nose persists despite other treatments. Antileukotrienes, eg. Montelukast tablet: Can be very helpful for nasal and eye symptoms, but does not work for everyone. Must be taken regularly Cromones, e.g. sodium chromoglycate spray: Safe but not very effective and must be taken several times per day.