Can Hay Fever Make You Feel Sick?

Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, affects around 1 in 5 people in the UK (Met Office, 2024). Instead of enjoying the sunshine, sufferers often find themselves indoors with closed windows. However, there are ways to manage hay fever symptoms. Here, we explore seven common symptoms of hay fever, from mild to severe, and how to alleviate them with treatments and home remedies.

Key Takeaways

Managing Tiredness and Fatigue: 

Hay fever can cause tiredness due to disrupted sleep from nasal congestion and headaches. To improve sleep, shower before bed to remove pollen and keep windows and doors closed during the day to prevent pollen from entering your home.

Alleviating Earache and Headache: 

Earaches can result from swollen nasal passages and headaches from inflammation due to pollen. Relieve earache by inhaling steam and equalising ear pressure by chewing gum. Manage headaches by staying hydrated to thin mucus and promote healthy blood circulation.

Reducing Sneezing, Nasal Issues, and Itchiness: 

Sneezing and nasal congestion are common hay fever symptoms. Prevent sneezing by applying petroleum jelly around your nostrils and frequently blowing your nose. Relieve a blocked or runny nose by inhaling steam and drinking plenty of water. Manage itchiness around the nose, throat and mouth by staying hydrated and using honey with warm water. For red, itchy eyes, rinse with cold water, wear wraparound sunglasses and apply petroleum jelly around the eyes to trap pollen.

How Can Hay Fever Make You Feel Sick?

There are a number of different ways that hay fever can make you feel sick. UK Meds have outlined the most common symptoms that a hay fever sufferer could experience below:

Tiredness & Fatigue

Tiredness is a frequent symptom for those with hay fever, often due to blocked noses or allergy-related headaches that disturb sleep (IQWiG, 2023). Many sufferers spend nights rubbing their eyes or waking frequently due to nasal congestion.

To improve sleep, shower before bed to remove pollen from your body and keep doors and windows closed during the day to prevent pollen from entering.

Key Tip: Tiredness from hay fever can be managed by showering before bed and keeping windows closed to reduce pollen exposure.

Earache

Though less common, earache can be a symptom of hay fever (A. Vogel, 2022), caused by swelling in the nasal and throat passages, leading to painful blockages in the ears.

To relieve earache, try inhaling hot steam to ease congestion or equalising ear pressure by chewing gum, yawning, or gently exhaling with your nose closed.

Key Tip: Earaches from hay fever can be alleviated by inhaling steam and equalising ear pressure through simple actions like chewing gum.

Headache

Headaches are a common hay fever symptom (Sudafed, 2024), resulting from nasal passage swelling and inflammation due to pollen.

To reduce headache pain, stay hydrated to thin mucus and encourage healthy blood circulation.

Key Tip: Drinking plenty of fluids can help manage hay fever-related headaches by thinning mucus and improving blood circulation.

Sneezing

Sneezing is one of the most prevalent hay fever symptoms (NHS Inform, 2023), as the body attempts to expel pollen from the nasal passages.

Prevent sneezing by applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly around your nostrils to trap pollen and regularly blowing your nose to clear out lingering pollen.

Key Tip: Prevent sneezing by using petroleum jelly around your nostrils and frequently blowing your nose to remove pollen.

Blocked or Runny Nose

A blocked or runny nose is another common hay fever symptom (Allergy UK, 2024), caused by inflamed nasal passages and excess mucus production.

Home remedies include inhaling steam from hot water or a warm shower and drinking plenty of water to loosen mucus.

Key Tip: A blocked or runny nose can be relieved by inhaling steam and staying hydrated to reduce mucus buildup.

Itchiness Around the Nose, Throat, and Mouth

Itchiness in these areas can be a severe hay fever symptom (NHS, 2024), resulting from inhaled pollen.

To relieve itchiness, drink plenty of fluids to keep the throat moist and try honey mixed with warm water for throat irritation. Regularly blowing your nose can also help clear nasal passages.

Key Tip: Manage itchiness by staying hydrated and using honey with warm water to soothe the throat.

Red Itchy Eyes

Red or itchy eyes are among the most severe hay fever symptoms (The College of Optometrists, 2023), caused by pollen contact. This can impair vision and cause significant discomfort.

To relieve itchy eyes, rinse them with cold water and use a clean towel to dry them. Wear wraparound sunglasses to protect your eyes from pollen and apply petroleum jelly around the eyes to catch pollen.

Key Tip: Protect your eyes from pollen by rinsing with cold water, wearing wraparound sunglasses, and using petroleum jelly around the eyes.

Video: A Doctor Explains Hay Fever (Allergic Rhinitis) Symptoms & Treatments

In the below video Dr O'Donovan (UK GMC number: 7436647) explains what hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is, the signs to look out for when it occurs and potential treatment options for it:

Please be aware that the video above is only for educational purposes and is not intended for use as a substitute for seeking professional medical advice from your own doctor or trusted healthcare professional.

Do I Have A Cold or Hay fever Quiz

Are you unsure if you're suffering from hay fever or a cold? Take our fun quiz to get an idea of which one you could be suffering from.

Remember to always consult your doctor if you're experiencing any symptoms of illness and need medical advice.

Final Thoughts

High pollen counts don't mean you have to miss out on summer. Follow these tips to alleviate hay fever symptoms. For extended relief, consider using products like Avamys Nasal Spray or Dymista nasal sprays, or oral treatments such as Desloratadine tablets, Fexofenadine tablets, Cetirizine tablets and Chlorphenamine tablets for all-day allergy protection. Consult your doctor for the most effective and appropriate hay fever treatment for your individual needs. 

Effective hay fever management involves following these tips and using recommended nasal sprays and tablets for comprehensive relief as advised by your healthcare provider.

Medically Reviewed by:
Dr. Alexis Missick MBChB. MRCGP
GMC reference no: 7151419
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