Hay fever sufferers have been warned of a potential shortage of medication – just as the Met Office forecasts high pollen levels in Wales in the coming days. Supply issues mean that some drug manufacturers are experiencing shortages and it could spell trouble for people with hay fever.
The NHS is also experiencing shortages of blood pressure pills and anti-depressants as drug manufacturers continue to experience supply issues. And experts warn there is a “real risk” of further shortages in the coming months.
As a result of the hay fever medicine shortage, millions of people could be forced to spend a lot of their time indoors this summer. For many, antihistamines are the only thing that helps to ease the symptoms of hay fever, but if there is no medicine available what else can you do?
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Tv doctor Hillary Jones has shared some of his top alternatives to help manage hay fever symptoms, as he says sufferers shouldn’t be “extraordinarily worried” by the short supply, as reported by the MEN. During Lorraine Kelly’s morning ITV show, Dr Hilary voiced his opinions on the shortages, saying Brexit “hasn’t helped” and explained: “There is a shortage of some medicines but certainly not all.
“We’ve got 90 products that treat hay fever, which you purchase over the counter at chemists, and there’s four in short supply.” The TV doctor shared some of his own hacks for dealing with hay fever, starting with advice to “listen to Laura Tobin with the weather forecast and the pollen forecast” adding: “She will tell you when the bad days are on their way – Friday is going to be a bad day because we’ve got higher temperatures.”
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He went on to say: “Avoid going out in the early morning and early evening, which is when the pollen tends to rise into the sky and then fall to the ground later on as the air cools. Think about wrap-around sunglasses, thinking about pollen filters in your car, think about Vaseline in the nostrils.
“Think about having a shower when you come in from a walk outside. To get rid of pollen in your hair and shampoo your hair as well”. He also recommended pet owners shampoo their pets, particularly dogs, after a walk as they can carry pollen on their coats and can also develop symptoms of hay fever.
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