More People Suffering From Hay Fever In The Next 20 Years

The number of people who suffer from hay fever could reach an estimated figure of 30 million in the next 20 years. This was reported in the Hay Fever Health Report 2010 which was commissioned by Kleenex. Hay fever rates may triple between now and 2030. One of the reasons contributing to this is the increase of people moving to the cities resulting in more allergies as pollution from traffic and industries irritate people's airways.

So if you have suffer frequently from hay fever, you might like to move to a less polluted area to stop your runny nose.

In the UK, big cities like London and Birmingham could see about 45% of the population affected. Coastal towns and cities suffer less with the sea breeze reducing the effect of pollution. Current estimates suggest one in five suffer from hay fever.

Stress increases hay fever symptoms
The report also found that the more stressed a person feels the more likely they are to have more severe symptoms.The author of the report, Professor Jean Emberlin, director of National Pollen and Aerobiology Research unit at the University of Worchester said that although pollen count in th city is lower than in the countryside, hat fever rates are higher in urban areas. The reason is the higher air pollution. Vehicle exhaust pollutants affect the respiratory tracts making the hay fever symptoms worse. Faster pace of life leads to higher stress levels making people more susceptible to allergies.

Having a less stressful life will certainly help as a remedy for a runny nose.

Climate change also affect the pollen seasons making them longer and more severe.

Courtesy of The UK Telegraph

Use Air Purifier To Stop A Runny Nose

Having an air purifier at home will certainly help as a remedy for a runny nose.

Take a look at your environment and see if there are any possible areas where you can reduce if not eliminate those sources which causes your runny nose. I know it is sometimes not possible to create a totally dust free environment but certain steps can still be taken so that it is kept to a minimum.

The environmental irritants often causing a runny nose include, dust, animal dander, cigarette smoke and pollen. The use of an air purifier in your home helps to reduce much of these pollutants.

Honeywell purifier

A good air purifier can remove as much as 99.7% of airborne particles. The purifier also helps reduce airborne germs, bacteria, mold spores and fungus.

Most people find they can stop a runny nose with the use of an air purifier. You also find the air smells fresher too.

A spoonful of honey everyday

Thousands of people swear by the effectiveness of a spoonful of honey everyday can help them to enjoy the summer without having to worry about pollen.

The principle behind it is desensitization. The sticky honey may also contain small amounts of the lighter wind blown pollens which inflames the lining of the nose. One suggestion could be that the body builds up a reaction to pollen. Theres has been no evidence of the effectiveness of honey on hay fever symptoms.

Most supporters of honey as a remedy recommend raw, unfiltered honey but David Bondi, chairman of the Honey Association says that any local product should work as honey is not a processed product. John Howat of the Bee Farmers Association of UK suggests opting for a multi-flora honey as that will contain a good mix of pollens.

So if you want to see if honey will work for you start now, don't wait till you start sneezing!

Read the complete article Honey: the sweetest cure for hay fever from The Telegraph.

Food Sources Of Vitamin C

Image via Wikipedia

We all know the benefits of eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. They are a rich source of Vitamin C. The thing is how much Vitamin C is there in the fruits we eat?

According to Linus Pauling Institute, 5 servings or 2 1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables should average 200 mg of Vitamin C. Here is a rough guide on the Vitamin C content in some of the fruits we consume.

Food	Serving	Vitamin C (mg)
Orange juice	¾ cup (6 ounces)	62-93
Grapefruit juice	¾ cup (6 ounces)	62-70
Orange	1 medium	70
Grapefruit	½ medium	38
Strawberries	1 cup, whole	85
Tomato	1 medium	16
Sweet red pepper	½ cup, raw chopped	95
Broccoli	½ cup, cooked	51
Potato	1 medium, baked	17

Courtesy of Linus Pauling Instittute

Why Morning Seems To Be Worse For Those With A Runny Nose

                                  Image via WikipediaHave you noticed that mornings are the worst times of the day for those with a runny nose? You wake up in the morning and the whole chain of sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes begin making a miserable start to the day. Once the sneezing starts, you find it hard to stop.

Outdoor air is usually saturated with mold and pollen during the early morning between 5 am and 10am. A good remedy for a runny nose is to avoid outdoor activities which will help lessen exposure to these irritants to the nasal system. It might help to wear a face mask if you do need to be outside during these times when the pollen count is high.


Temperature or humidity changes can also trigger the membranes inside the nose to swell and as a result you have a runny nose. Skiers often develop a runny nose because of this. Some people start sneezing when they leave an air conditioned room while others have a runny nose when exposed to the cold.

More causes of non-allergic rhinitis

How Vitamin C Helps Stop The Runny Nose

Vitamin C Helps Lessen Runny Nose

During an allergic attack like hay fever the Vitmain C level drops while the histamine in the blood rises. Histamine is released when a person who has a sensitive immune system inhales pollen or dust. This causes itching, runny nose and sneezing.

According to research at the Arizona State University the people who consume 2,000 mg of Vitamin C per day have a blood histamine level 40 percent lower than those who consume the RDA (US Recommended Daily Allowance.)

Vitamin C doesn't block the histamine receptors like the anti-histamine drugs, which is what gives the quick relief. Vitamin C lowers the levels of histamines in the blood. It is safe to say that Vitamin C help prevent or lessen allergy symptoms over the long term. It doesn't act as a quick treatment for existing symptoms. 

In the long term it would seem that taking Vitamin C is a good remedy for a runny nose.

Vitamin C and bioflavonoids together work better

Bioflavonoids are the substance that give fruits and vegetables their rich colour. They work in synergy with Vitamin C. This means when use together you will get more benefit.

The best bioflavonoid for hay fever is quercitin. It helps stablilise the cell membranes of those cells which discharge histamine into the blood stream. It is a natural anti-histamine helping to reduce inflammation of the nasal passages, the bronchial airways and the throat.

Foods which has this nutrient include red and yellow onions, shallots, squash, courgettes and broccoli.

Vitamin C rich foods - guave, bell peppers, strawberries, cabbage, kale. kiwi and oranges.

So the next time you buy some Vitamin C, look for those with bioflavonoids to stop your runny nose.

Natural Remedies For Runny Nose

1. Use good quality tissue paper to blow your nose. Don't use toilet paper as it will aggravate the inflammed tissue.

2. Lie down in a cool place. This helps the flow of mucous tremendously. It also helps to relieve the itchy eyes and headache if you have any.

3. If you are not at home, find a cool, air-conditioned area. Get out of the heat. The cool air can stop the nasal dripping.

4. Take a good quality Vitamin C. The Vitamin C should preferably have bioflavonoid like quercetin incorporated. It is a natural anti-histamine.

5. Instead of Vitamin C you can also take grape seed extract. It is a natural anti-histamine.

6. Drink plenty of filtered water.

7. Add some honey to minced grapefruit and lemon. Drink this 3 times a day.