The article below was written by Steve Carroll of National Club Golfer.
Eyes watering? Can’t stop sneezing? We all know the tell-tale signs of hayfever. But it can be a bind for those of us who love their golf and right now – late May, June and July are peak season for pollen sufferers.
It’s said 95% of hayfever sufferers are allergic to grass pollen but there are ways golfers can tackle their allergy symptoms and still enjoy their rounds without it affecting their performance.
Airborne allergens expert Max Wiseberg, who has created barrier balm HayMax, offers eight nuggets of wisdom for golfers this summer.
“Hay fever is a result of our immune system’s overreaction to innocuous allergens such as pollen,” he said. “The body’s reaction to pollen is to produce histamines. Normal amounts of histamines in your brain are good – they keep you alert, attentive and awake.
“But, when there are too many in your body, they produce the various symptoms common to hay fever sufferers including sneezing, a runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, watery eyes, streaming eyes, swollen eyes and an itchy nose and throat.”
How can golfers deal with hayfever this summer?
Playing the game definitely helps
Getting plenty of exercise can help reduce symptoms, so a round or two of golf will help with this one. You should try to do two and a half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise every week.
Time your round to avoid peak pollen
You should avoid going out when the pollen count is highest, generally first thing in the morning and early evening, especially on dry, warm, sunny days.
Wear clean clothes
If you wash your golfing gear after each round, you will have clean, pollen free clothes each time. Make sure you dry it indoors rather than on an outdoor clothes line or dryer to prevent pollen particles being blown onto it by the wind.
Stop pollen getting in your hair
Tie up long hair and wear a cap whilst playing. A cap or other head cover will help stop pollen particles being caught in your hair.
Stop pollen getting in your eyes
Wear wraparound sunglasses during your round. Not only will this protect your eyes from the sun, but will help stop pollen particles getting in your eyes. And apply an allergen barrier balm around the sockets of your eyes to help trap pollen.
Stay well hydrated
Make sure you drink plenty of water while playing, as this will help symptoms; being dehydrated makes symptoms feel worse.
Eat lots of fruit and vegetables
This will help you stay healthy and support your immune system. Red onions, kale, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, blueberries and apples are good sources of quercetin, which is thought to limit the release of histamine, the chemical that sets off allergy symptoms in your body.
Shower and change your clothes after your round
Take a shower after your round or when you get home to wash away allergens so that they can’t cause a reaction. If you change your clothes when you get back home, this will reduce the amount of pollen you bring back indoors.
