Not to be sniffed at: Allergy Action

There again other airborne allergens (substances in the air that cause allergies) can effect some allergy sufferers all year round – for instance pet dander, house dust mites and mould. All together that's a lot of sneezing, itching and wheezing.

But how do allergies work?

According to experts some people have immune systems that see ordinary, and otherwise harmless substances as a threat – things like pollen for instance. So when these substances come into contact with their mouth, eyes and nose, their antibodies react with them which triggers the production of a chemical called histamine.

It 's the histamine rather than the allergen itself that makes your eyes and skin itchy and your nose runny. In severe cases, however, histamine can cause much more serious symptoms such as shortness of breath, low blood pressure and swelling in the mouth and throat.

Not Sure it 's An Allergy?

Can't decide whether you have hayfever or house dust mite allergy, or just a bit of a cold that's been lingering for a while? A growing number of pharmacists now offer paid for allergy screening that tests for the 10 most common airborne allergens – including various types of pollen, house dust mites, animal dander and mould spores. This includes a simple blood test and your results are ready in just 20 minutes. Ask your local pharmacist about it or find your nearest pharmacy providing this service by using the pharmacy locator.

Top Tips for Allergy Sufferers

Depending on which airborne substances you're allergic to, keep symptoms at bay with these simple self help measures:

• Keep doors and windows closed during the pollen season
• Avoid going out in the early morning / evening when the pollen count is high
• Vacuum curtains, carpets and sofas at least three times a week
• Wash your bedding regularly at 55-60∞C and don't dry washing outside
• Put pillows and soft toys in the freezer to kill off dust mites and stop them reproducing
• Keep pets out of the bedroom at all times
• Use dehumidifiers to reduce humidity in your home (mould spores love humidity)
• Put gravel on top of house plant soil to prevent mould growing
• Remove mould from household surfaces using a 5% ammonia solution
• Avoid cutting the grass in late summer if you're allergic to mould spores (found in decaying vegetation)