01 May 2003
I have always suffered from hayfever most of the year round, but it has been a bit better over the last couple of years. When I started going out with my boyfriend and staying at his flat it got a lot worse and antihistamines don't help, I think they've worn off. I wake up in the morning because my nose is itching so much and I can actually feel it close up, but it doesn't happen every day, so it can't just be dust/pet hair. I had a brainwave today as I was lying there trying not to sneeze - the central heating was on, and if it's cold out it always comes on before we get up. I know that heating has long term effects like helping dust mites breed, but is it possible that the central heating is have more instant and acute effect, perhaps by circulating the dust? I really do feel rough when I wake up in the mornings, but it wears off during the day and normally because the heating is off or I go out.

Response
If you are getting hay fever type symptoms all year round, then you could be suffering from perennial/vasomotor rhinitis. There is some evidence that this is aggravated by dry air and so humidifying your environment may help. You can do this by placing a bowl of water near the radiators.

However, house dust mite allergy is a common cause of rhinitis too. This will be helped by decreasing the numbers of mites, so frequent dusting, hoovering and using special mattress and pillow covers would be helpful. House dust mites thrive in a humid environment. Mites grow best at 75-80% relative humidity, and cannot live at less than 50% humidity, so if this were the cause of your problem reducing the humidity would be the thing to do.

The fact that your symptoms vary from day to day could be dependent on a variety of things, for example the amount of dust around. You mention pet hair, your symptoms could be affected by something as simple as the animal having been in the bedroom, particularly as your symptoms are worse in the mornings.
If the antihistamines are not helping anymore, you could try a different type, or an anti-allergy nose spray, some of which can be bought over the counter. Try talking to your pharmacist and if nothing is helping see your doctor for more advice. Look at our articles in The Big Wheeze section for more advice.