We do the Pollen Report in the 10am news every Monday – Friday with  Prof Jonny Peter the Head of the Allergy Unit at the UCT Lung Institute. It’s exclusive to Smile 90.4 FM and Cape Town has a Pollen Trap that’s monitored daily to bring us insight. 

I’ve personally learned so much, from understanding what’s in the air, to the differences between a cold and allergies and how we are all affected. It got me thinking that while we are in Spring and the fluctuating temps make the pollen count go crazy – what else is making our allergies worse? 

 1.      Certain types of fruit and veg: Here’s something kind of weird: Certain raw produce (like apples, tomatoes and celery) have a protein on the surface that your body can confuse with pollen. It’s called oral allergy syndrome and can lead to annoying symptoms like an itchy throat and mouth. Washing them thoroughly, or even peeling and cooking these foods may help, but some people will need to avoid them entirely.

2.      Fragranced Candles: We know, that vanilla spice–scented candle is divine. But even though it doesn’t necessarily release any allergens, the chemicals in the fragrance could be irritating for those who suffer from hay fever. The same goes for some perfumes, so if you are really struggling – you might want to eliminate these for a while (at least to rule them out.)

3.      Contact lenses. Ditch the contacts and reach for your glasses during allergy season, experts say. Wearing lenses may accidentally trap pollen in your eyes, which can lead to irritation. If you don’t want to give up your contacts, opt for hard ones instead of the softer styles (their permeability means more airborne irritants can be absorbed), or try the disposable options that can help avoid a buildup of pollen.

4.      Cigarette smoke. Even if you’re not a smoker yourself, you’ll want to keep a safe distance from secondhand smoke, which can amplify allergy symptoms.

5.      Alcohol. Sorry, but that glass of wine could be doing more harm than good. While all booze acts as a vasodilator (i.e., widens blood vessels, which can lead to a runny nose), red wine is problematic in particular, since it’s so high in sulphites. (That is, compounds that actually cause an allergic reaction.)