How to reduce hay fever symptoms with nasal sprays

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00:00 For the nearly 40% of the UK population who suffer from hay fever,

00:05 June and the beginning of July is the peak time for their troublesome symptoms.

00:10 Most of the pollen in the UK atmosphere actually comes from grass or hay which pollinates in June.

00:18 And this is on top of the pollen which has already been released from weeds and trees.

00:25 There are concerns that with changes in the climate, plants are going to pollinate earlier and for longer,

00:33 so that there will be more pollen in the atmosphere than in previous years.

00:37 Most health sites advise staying at home with the windows and doors closed,

00:43 but this is not very practical advice for most people.

00:46 The main focus of medical treatments for hay fever is actually to take an antihistamine,

00:51 which do help to reduce the runny nose and the blocked nose.

00:55 But they don't address the underlying root cause of why people are allergic to pollen.

01:01 And they do have side effects.

01:03 Even the modern non-sedatory forms can cause some sleepiness, a dry mouth,

01:09 and there are concerns for long-term health.

01:12 Having poor gut health does increase the probability of having more severe hay fever symptoms.

01:20 Having poor gut health correlates with a less efficient immune system.

01:25 So you're more likely to catch an infection, but at the same time,

01:29 you're more likely to overreact to antigens in our environment, including pollen.

01:36 People with poor gut health also have lower levels of vitamin D,

01:41 which is also being linked to worse hay fever symptoms.

01:45 And they have higher levels of inflammation.

01:48 So the first important strategy is to try to improve and look after our gut health

01:53 by eating less processed sugar, exercising more, eating more bacteria-rich foods,

02:01 such as kefir, kimchi, and eating more prebiotic foods, such as mushrooms, artichokes, etc.

02:09 Many people in the UK may find this diet difficult to sustain.

02:14 In that case, the use of a probiotic supplement may have a role.

02:20 There are a number of studies which show that people who take probiotics

02:25 for 10 to 12 weeks over the summer will have reduced hay fever symptoms.

02:31 If considering taking a probiotic, however, make sure they contain mainly lactobacillus

02:36 and non-histamine secreting, such as in Your Gut Plus,

02:41 which also has a built-in prebiotic and vitamin D.

02:45 Further studies are emerging which show that people who have a high intake

02:51 of phytochemical-rich foods have lower hay fever symptoms.

02:56 Now, phytochemicals are found naturally in plants, which give them their colour,

03:00 their taste and their smell, and they have numerous health benefits,

03:04 including reducing inflammation and improving the immunity.

03:09 On top of a healthy diet, there have been some studies which show that boosting

03:14 the intake of phytochemicals with a capsule can further reduce hay fever symptoms.

03:23 If you're thinking of boosting your levels of phytochemicals with a capsule,

03:27 consider one such as Your Phyto, which is being used in a national study

03:32 because you have the reassurance it's shown some degree of effectiveness

03:36 and has a high safety profile.

03:39 One practical strategy to reduce the amount of pollen in your nasal cavity

03:45 is using a nasal douche.

03:47 Rinsing the nasal cavities two or three times a day not only reduces the amount of pollen,

03:56 it actually removes some of the excess mucus and clears the airways.

04:01 Several studies have shown it significantly reduces hay fever symptoms.

04:08 It's not the most glamorous of habits, but I've tried this myself and it certainly does help.

04:14 There are a number of apparatuses available commercially,

04:19 but the one featured in the video called Rhin-E stands out as it doesn't require batteries or refills.

04:26 And speaking from experience, it has just the right amount of saline and power to wash out the nose.

04:34 With good equipment and practice, nasal douching is actually quite straightforward.

04:40 However, when you first start, it may be useful to get help from a friend who's done it before.

04:46 (upbeat music)

04:49 you

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