BREATHE EASY
When your hay fever symptoms could really be signs of cancer – from eye irritation to headaches
Plus expert-approved ways to treat seasonal ailments like a stuffy nose
MILLIONS of us are plagued by irritating, uncomfortable and sometimes painful hay fever symptoms.
Thankfully, they tend to be short-lived and can be treated with over-the-counter medicines and home remedies.
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But in some instances, these symptoms could be a sign of something more serious, including cancer, experts warn.
This is rare, but it is important to be able to recognise when you could be at risk.
So whether it's itchy eyes, a runny nose or a painful headache, here are eight of the most common hay fever symptoms and when they could indicate something more sinister is going on.
Irritated eyes
Most people with hay fever will be familiar with agonising eye irritation that comes with it.
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Whether you're left dying to itch your waterline, have bright red inner corners or your peepers simply won't stop watering, it can be a real pain.
But if your eye irritation lasts for a long time, particularly if well past your other symptoms, it could be a sign of something more sinister.
One symptom of eye cancer, also known as ocular cancer, is "eye irritation that is not going away", according to the .
Others include blurred vision, bulging, a lump on the eyelid, partial or total vision loss, a dark patch that's getting bigger or shadows, flashes of light or wiggly lines in your vision.
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"These symptoms can also be caused by more minor eye conditions, so they're not necessarily a sign of cancer," the health service adds.
"But it's important to get the symptoms checked by a doctor as soon as possible."
GP-approved hay fever tips that really will stifle the sneezes
There are several different types of eye cancer, including eye melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, lymphoma and retinoblastoma.
About 850 cases are diagnosed in the UK every year.
Sneezing
Another hallmark of hay fever - sneezing.
Generally, this won't ever be a sign of cancer. But some forms of the disease can cause flu-like symptoms.
This is particularly true for blood cancers like leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), according to .
One in 16 men and one in 22 women will develop blood cancer at some point in their lives, the charity estimates.
Runny nose
A runny nose is a common symptom of hay fever, but in rare cases, it can also be a sign of nasal or sinus cancer, the warns.
Some people also experience a blocked nose that doesn't go away (and usually only affects one side), nosebleeds, a decreased sense of smell, and mucus draining into the back of the nose and throat.
"These symptoms can be similar to more common and less serious conditions, such as a cold or sinusitis," the NHS adds.
Nasal and sinus cancer is rare in the UK, with around 460 cases every year.
Itchy throat
There are many reasons your throat, mouth, nose or ears could be feeling itchy, with a major one being hay fever.
But itchiness or soreness can occur in patients with any form of head and neck cancer.
There are more than 30 areas where the disease can develop, including the mouth, lips, voice box (larynx), throat (pharynx), salivary glands, nose, sinuses, and the area at the back of the nose and mouth (nasopharynx).
An irritated or sore throat tends to be more common in cancer of the oropharynx or hypopharynx, the NHS says.
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SUMMER is here, which means the annual onslaught of dreaded hay fever symptoms is back with a vengeance.
Triggered when the immune system reacts to the allergen pollen, common hay fever symptoms include watery, itchy eyes, a tickly throat and a runny, congested nose.
Holly Shaw, a nurse adviser for charity Allergy UK, puts this down to “better diagnosis but also climate change, with warmer temperatures causing pollen seasons to start earlier and last longer”.
But if the go-to remedies of daily anti-histamine tablets, nasal sprays and balms from the chemist are not doing the trick, don’t lose hope, there are other hacks you can deploy.
From regularly showering and vacuuming the home to scoffing chocs, here are some tactics backed by experts not to be sneezed at . . .
- Wear wraparound sunglasses and a hat with a peak or big brim or go for a face mask
- On high pollen days, have a bath or shower and wash your hair. Change your clothes when you get home.
- Avoid mowing the lawn or raking leaves – ask someone else to step in.
- Try not to dry clothes or bed linen outside when the allergen count is high.
- Keep windows firmly closed, especially early in the morning and in the evening, when higher levels of pollen are released.
- Wipe down pets with a damp cloth, as they can bring pollen into the home. Also, think about keeping your dog or cat away from you if you can.
- Put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap particles before they can work their way up your nose.
- Take a few minutes each day to vacuum well, especially if you have deep-pile carpets. Hoover over upholstered furniture where particles may have spread through open window.
- Wipe down window panes and sills regularly.
- Wash your bedding once a week at a high temperature to remove any pollen that may have transferred from you and your clothes.
- Take vitamin D supplements. Research has shown they can regulate immune system cells that help to prevent allergic reactions.
- Experts say diets high in antioxidants such as broccoli, spinach, potato and carrot can help to ward off stuffy noses caused by hay fever.
- Dark chocolate can also help to reduce symptoms, it is said.
- If all else fails and you feel hay fever is ruining your life, or even causing asthma attacks, pay a visit to your doctor who could refer you to a specialist clinic
Coughing
"Symptoms of lung cancer can be hard to spot, especially with spring now in full bloom," the says.
"A persistent cough or wheeziness, for example, could be put down to seasonal allergies such as hay fever.
"However, if symptoms like a persistent cough continue, it could be an indicator of something else going on."
If your cough hasn't gone away after three weeks, or it seems to be getting worse, speak to your GP.
Loss of smell
Nasal or sinus cancer can cause your sense of smell to worsen.
But this can also occur as a result of a brain tumour in some cases, the warns.
"It’s also worth noting that, although not technically a brain tumour, an olfactory neuroblastoma (also called a esthesioneuroblastoma) can decrease the sense of smell, create nosebleeds, lead to watery eyes, and other symptoms," the charity adds.
"If you have lost your taste or smell, it’s important that you don’t panic.
"Brain tumours are rare, and other medical issues can lead to a loss of taste and smell.
"However, if you’re worried then talk to your doctor."
There are around 12,700 new brain, other central nervous system and intracranial tumours cases in the UK every year, (CRUK) estimates.
Headaches
Common allergies, including hay fever, can trigger sinus headaches.
These tend to feel like a dull or throbbing pain in the temples, forehead, nose and cheekbones, according to .
But this kind of sensation can also indicate several types of cancer.
Though it will most likely be down to hay fever, dehydration, a hangover, a cold or another common ailment, more than half of all people who are diagnosed with a brain tumour report experiencing headaches, the says.
"Doctors generally do not worry if there is a clear reason for your headache, and if you don’t have any other brain tumour symptoms," the charity adds.
"But, headaches are a symptom of brain tumours, so it’s important to understand brain tumour headaches so that you know the signs to look out for."
Pain caused by a brain tumour tends to be worse in the morning, aggravated by straining, coughing, shouting or bending over, and not managed by painkillers, experts say.
They can feel like throbbing or a dull ache, resemble a migraine or tension-type headache, and occur intermittently, starting gradually but fading over a few hours.
If you experience this alongside other "red flags", like repeated vomiting, muscle weakness, a change in memory or personality, or seizures, speak to your GP.
Feeling tired
Any cancer that affects your hormone levels could cause fatigue, according to .
We all feel tired now and again - especially those of us with hay fever for half the year.
But persistent exhaustion could be a sign of diseases like breast or prostate cancer, the charity warns.
"People with advanced cancer are more likely to have fatigue than those with earlier stage cancer," it adds.
"This could be because there are more cancer cells in the body, so the cancer itself is causing you to feel tired.
"You might also eat less, be less active and take medicines."
Research suggests cancer-related fatigue affects almost 65 out of 100 people with cancer.
It can be a symptom of the cancer itself or a side effect of treatment.
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CRUK lists the following symptoms as potential cancer-related fatigue:
- A lack of energy – you may just want to stay in bed all day
- The need to rest even when you’ve done little or no activity
- Feeling that you just cannot be bothered to do much
- Sleeping problems, such as unable to sleep or disturbed sleep
- Finding it hard to get up in the morning
- Feeling anxious, sad or depressed
- Pain in your muscles – you may find it hard to climb stairs or walk short distances
- Feeling breathless after doing small tasks, for example, having a shower or making your bed
- Finding it hard to concentrate, even just watching TV or talking to a friend
- Finding it hard to think clearly or make decisions easily
- Loss of interest in sex
- Loss of interest in doing things you usually enjoy
- Negative feelings about yourself and others
Hay fever first aid kit
Analyse your symptoms and find the best medication kit for you...
Antihistamines
Antihistamines (cetirizine or loratadine) work by blocking histamine in the body, which is released when the body detects something it thinks is harmful.
Histamine causes blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell, but in people with hay fever, also causes an allergic reaction. That’s the watering eyes, blocked nose, rashes and so on.
Max Wiseberg, airborne allergens expert and creator of HayMax, says that many antihistamines are available on prescription, such as Telfast, which you can see your GP for or get through an online doctor, such as LloydsPharmacy.
Telfast, and other prescription-only antihistamine tablets, work in the same way as over-the-counter antihistamines, but are stronger and intended to help with more severe symptoms.
“Get your prescription in advance of the season so you have your medication in time to start taking it at the right time,” he says.
“Some are best taken at least one month before the hay fever season starts."
Nasal sprays
A nasal spray can be effective in controlling congestion and stuffiness.
Pharmacists can advise on nasal sprays (sodium cromoglicate, ipratropium bromide or decongestant), and eye drops, too.
Nasal sprays can also help with other symptoms of hay fever “because the medicine is targeted directly to the nose, which is where the vast majority of allergens enter the body”, Max says.
Independent pharmacist Rita Ghelani says: “Try Xlear nasal spray, which contains xylitol, and has anti-bacterial properties and keeps the nasal lining moist.
“If symptoms are more severe, then try an anti-inflammatory nasal spray – sometimes referred to as a steroid nasal spray – which can take a few days to work.
“Start with one that contains beclomethasone, which is used twice a day, in the morning and at night.”
Rita also advises cleaning the nose with a saline nasal spray before a steroid spray, saying: “It will remove sticky mucus from the nasal passage, thus improving the effectiveness of the medication.”
Eye drops
If itchy eyes are your primary concern, Rita says: “Try using sodium cromoglicate eye drops.
"These make the eyes less sensitive to allergens such as pollen and reduce irritation.
"They need to be used four times a day to keep the levels of the active ingredient high enough to be effective.
"Keep using them even if symptoms improve.
“Using a good eye drop to lubricate the eyes may also help with dry eyes during the summer months.”
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