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The season of hay fever, stuffy noses and watery eyes is here.
With pollen counts expected to remain high this weekend, millions of Brits will be fighting you.Unpleasant sneezing, nose blowing, and congested sinuses.
But for those who are tired of constantly searching for tissues, there are some “tricks” that could relieve nasal congestion “instantly.”
Social media user James Moore, a massage therapist from Kentucky, shared his tips on Instagram and TikTok in posts that have been viewed millions of times.
In one video, he suggests people who suffer from nasal congestion start by blocking one nostril and applying “firm pressure” under the cheekbone on the opposite side of the face. He advises people to hold this position for 10 seconds to feel the effects.
Another method he suggests is to pull your nose to one side and then apply pressure under your cheekbone. Again, he says to do this for 10 seconds.
In one video, he suggests that people suffering from nasal congestion start by blocking one nostril and applying “firm pressure” under the cheekbone on the opposite side of the face.
People are advised to hold this position for 10 seconds to feel the effects.
Another method he suggests is to pull the nose to one side and then apply pressure under the cheekbone. Again it says to do this for 10 seconds.
He explained that the technique works by “using massage pressure to allow more blood to flow to the sinus area.”
What causes hay fever and what are the symptoms?
Hay fever affects millions of people. It is an allergic reaction to pollen, usually when it comes into contact with the mouth, nose, eyes and throat.
Hay fever symptoms are worse between March and September, when pollen counts are at their highest.
The graphic explains how an allergic reaction, such as sneezing and coughing, occurs due to pollen.
What are the symptoms?
- Unlike a cold that only lasts a week or two, hay fever lasts for months.
- Sneezing and coughing
- Itchy, red or watery eyes.
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Itching in the throat, mouth, nose and ears.
- Loss of smell
- Feeling tired
- Headache
- Earache
Source: NHS
But he does warn that this should not be taken as medical advice.
The NHS recommends treating nasal congestion caused by an allergy with pharmacy medicines.
Taking over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines, clearing the nasal passages with a salt water solution and avoiding triggers such as pollen are methods suggested by the NHS.
Antihistamines work by blocking the effects of histamine, a chemical the body releases when it detects something harmful, such as an infection.
It causes blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell, which helps protect the body.
But in those with hay fever, the body mistakes pollen as a threat and produces histamine, which causes itchy, watery eyes, a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing and skin rashes.
Antihistamines help stop this reaction if taken before coming into contact with pollen, or reduce the severity of symptoms if taken afterward.
Decongestants are another option for hay fever sufferers. They are available in the form of nasal sprays, drops, tablets and liquids.
They work by reducing swelling of the blood vessels in the nose, which helps open the airways.
But strong doses of antihistamines, nasal sprays and eye drops are not the only ways to relieve hay fever symptoms.
An innovative treatment available on the NHS could mean an end to seasonal suffering for some people.
The immunotherapy treatment consists of placing a wafer the size of a fingertip under the tongue daily.
As the wafer dissolves, it releases small amounts of the harmful allergen, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream.
The idea is that by exposing the body to small amounts of the trigger, you “desensitize” it, preventing the immune system from overreacting that triggers the cascade that leads to symptoms.
Currently, only around 1,000 NHS patients a year are eligible for immunotherapy for their allergies.
The health service says that if steroids and other hay fever treatments don’t work, your GP may refer you for immunotherapy.
However, experts have called for it to be made more widely available, backed by evidence from recent research.
One University of Southampton study They found that babies who received immunotherapy for dust mite allergy were 80 percent less likely to develop allergy-associated diseases by age six, such as asthma.