Your guide to... managing hayfever.

Transcription

1 Your guide to... managing hayfever

2 Boots is better than ever There are now 15,000 health experts, including pharmacists, Healthcare Consultants and Healthcare Advisors in more than 1,300 of our stores, on hand to give you personalised health advice about dealing with your hayfever symptoms. For friendly, expert advice on which hayfever medicines are most appropriate for you, and for any other health queries you may have, Ask your Boots Pharmacy Team. Runny or blocked nose? Sneezing? Itchy, watery eyes? They are all common symptoms of hayfever, although some people also have an itchy throat and inner ears and a tickly cough. Hayfever is an allergic reaction, usually to pollen, although it can be caused by mould, too. When you have an allergy, it means that your body is more sensitive to certain substances that don t trigger a reaction in most people. If you have hayfever, you re more likely to suffer from the allergyrelated conditions eczema and asthma. You re also more likely to have hayfever if someone in your family has these conditions. Hayfever can make you feel miserable: sleeping can be difficult, and you may feel as though your head is What s the most effective hayfever medicine for me? Ask your Boots Pharmacy Team for a personalised consultation to find the most effective solution for you. Your guide to managing hayfever full of cotton wool, making it hard to concentrate. There are many types of pollen, which are released from spring to autumn. In the UK, most hayfever sufferers are allergic to grass pollen, which peaks from early June to mid July. If you have hayfever, your Boots Pharmacy Team can offer personalised advice about the most effective treatments for you. Cover photography: Getty. All expert portraits: Pete Thompson. Photography: Alamy Children and hayfever If you think your child may be suffering from hayfever for the first time, speak to your Boots Pharmacy Team for advice. Hayfever symptoms can be especially hard for kids to deal with. They can feel self-conscious about a persistent runny nose and sneezing and may have to avoid playing outside when the pollen count is high. More crucially, hayfever can affect school performance, which is 1 2 particularly serious for children taking exams. During this time, you ll want to do all you can to help your child manage their hayfever. Your Boots Pharmacy Team can help by offering advice about the most appropriate over-thecounter medicines for their symptoms. The good news for childhood allergy sufferers is that symptoms often lessen or disappear in adulthood. Help yourself You can t avoid pollen, but here s how you can limit your exposure to it: 3If Check the pollen forecast.* If you can, stay indoors with the windows shut on days when the pollen count is high. * For the latest pollen count, visit The peak time for pollen is 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm. Spend as little time outside as possible during these hours. Last year, my daughter s sneezing and itchy eyes got so much better after she tried a hayfever relief syrup. I couldn t believe the difference it made. Janice you have spent time outside, change your clothes and have a shower to wash the pollen off your skin and hair. 4You might want to keep a hayfever diary, based on previous years experience. You may need to start medicines ahead of the pollen season. 02

3 Ask the experts ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM SYMPTOMS? DO YOU NEED TO CONSIDER A CHANGE? If you ve been taking the same hayfever medicine for years, and haven t discussed other options with your Boots pharmacist, you may not be using the most effective medicine for you. Or you could have the right medicine, but may not be taking it in the best way. Sometimes, trying a different treatment can make all the difference. ONE-TO-ONE CONSULTATION To find out whether you should consider a change, Ask your Boots Pharmacy Team for a free Medicines Check a one-to-one consultation with your pharmacist, during which you can ask questions about your medication, whether it s over-the-counter or on prescription. NEW TO HAYFEVER Perhaps you ve just started suffering from hayfever and don t Did you know... Boots has consultation facilities in over 1,000 stores ideal if you prefer not to discuss your health queries in public? Ask your Boots Pharmacy Team if there is one in your store. know how to control your symptoms. Your Boots Pharmacy Team will be able to talk to you about your circumstances and give you personalised advice. They can also discuss the range of medicines available from complementary options to antihistamine tablets, eye drops, nasal decongestants and nasal sprays as well as providing advice about the most appropriate ones for you, and whether they re safe to use with other medicines. YOU COME FIRST We want you to feel your best and get the most from your Boots Pharmacy Team, so at Boots, we always aim to: put you first give you impartial and confidential advice use everyday language without medical jargon suggest other services that may be of help. Take your time We ve improved many of our dispensaries to enable the Boots Pharmacy Team to support continued delivery of a prompt, efficient service. So whatever your health question, Ask your Boots Pharmacy Team. WE RE HERE TO HELP At Boots, we offer a wide range of over-the-counter products to help tackle hayfever, such as Boots Non Drowsy Hayfever and Allergy Relief 10mg Tablets* and Boots Hayfever Relief Eye Drops**, which can be used with any other form of hayfever medicine for maximum relief. Ask your Boots Pharmacy Team for information on the options available and which ones are the most appropriate for you. *Contains loratadine; always read the label. **Contains sodium cromoglicate; always read the label. What can I take to control my symptoms that won t make me feel drowsy? Ask your Boots Pharmacy Team about one-a-day, non-drowsy options. As well as a dispensing service, we offer a FREE Prescription Collection Service (with participating surgeries only). We ll collect and prepare your repeat prescription. Then, when it is ready, you can either pop into Boots during opening hours to collect it, or you can arrange to have your medicines delivered to your home or workplace. Join the FREE Boots Health Club and you ll receive information and advice on allergies and other health topics that matter to you and get ½ price on over 50 important health products, such as hayfever medicines, every time you shop. For details of how to join, see page 12. healthclub 04

4 How can I help myself avoid exposure to pollen? Ask your Boots Pharmacy Team. They ll advise you on how best to manage your symptoms. Your treatment, your choice There s a range of treatments available on prescription or over the counter, which can help control your hayfever. Here are some options to consider Treatment Products Who is it suitable for? How will it help? One-a-day tablets Boots Non Drowsy Hayfever and Allergy Relief 10mg Tablets* Contains loratadine Boots Hayfever and Allergy Relief* Contains cetirizine hydrochloride Adults and children over 12 years of age Adults and children 6 years and over One-a-day formulations. To relieve the symptoms of hayfever Nasal spray Flixonase Allergy Nasal Spray* Contains fluticasone Ask your Boots PharmacyTeam about free Flixonase branded tissues** Not for use in children under 18 years Relief from airborne allergy symptoms. Helps relieve allergy symptoms for up to 24 hours Antihistamines Benadryl Plus Allergy & Congestion Relief* Not for use in the elderly (over 65 years) or children under 12 years Effective relief from allergies and nasal congestion. Works in minutes Eye drops Boots Hayfever Relief Eye Drops* Contains sodium cromoglicate Suitable for adults and children For the relief of eye symptoms of hayfever *Always read the label. **Subject to availability, while stocks last. 06

5 3effective solutions for a Considerone of the Boots one-a-day products and, if one of your symptoms affects you more than the rest, for example, itchy eyes or runny nose, supplementing with eye drops or a nasal spray may help. Continue using this product and, if any of your symptoms begin to come back, Ask your Boots Pharmacy Team which combination of products may be most suitable for you. You may need extra help from eye drops or a nasal spray. Consider sneeze-free summer BOOTS HAYFEVER RELIEF EYE DROPS For the relief of eye symptoms of hayfever. FOR ITCHING EYES Contains sodium cromoglicate; always read the label Do you want to prevent the symptoms of hayfever before the season starts? yes no no You want to wait for symptoms before starting treatment. Have you used a hayfever product before? For tablet users: does your product give you maximum relief from all of your symptoms all of the time? yes yes no Is there a particular symptom that bothers you most? Which is your most troublesome symptom itchy, watery eyes or nasal congestion? eyes congestion yes no Consider FLIXONASE ALLERGY NASAL SPRAY Relief from airborne allergy symptoms. Helps relieve allergy symptoms for up to 24 hours. FOR ALLERGY SYMPTOMS Do you have any questions? Ask your Boots Pharmacy Team for advice Contains fluticasone; always read the label No, I suffer from all the symptoms just as badly as each other Consider BENADRYL PLUS ALLERGY & CONGESTION RELIEF Effective relief from allergies and nasal congestion. FOR NASAL CONGESTION Always read the label If your hayfever symptoms aren t under control, it may be that you need to have a combination of products to give you maximum relief. Your Boots Pharmacy Team is happy to discuss your symptoms and give you advice about which combination of products would be the most appropriate for you. People with hayfever should not need to suffer throughout the season and the Boots Pharmacy Team will help find a solution. IMPORTANT Please tell the Boots Pharmacy Team if you have any medical conditions or are taking other medicines. They may ask about your symptoms to ensure they offer advice to suit your needs. Make sure you read the label and follow the instructions carefully.

6 TERMS AND CONDITIONS This voucher must be presented at the till with your purchase. Only one voucher can be used per product and per transaction. The voucher is valid from 23/05/07 to 31/07/07. No cash alternative is available. Photocopies, damaged or defective coupons will not be accepted. This voucher is not transferable. This voucher cannot be used as part payment with Advantage Card points. Offer cannot be used on boots.com or bootsdirect. Voucher cannot be used retrospectively. Sales of medicines are at the discretion of your Boots pharmacist. TERMS AND CONDITIONS This voucher must be presented at the till with your purchase. Only one voucher can be used per product and per transaction. The voucher is valid from 23/05/07 to 31/07/07. No cash alternative is available. Photocopies, damaged or defective coupons will not be accepted. This voucher is not transferable. This voucher cannot be used as part payment with Advantage Card points. Offer cannot be used on boots.com or bootsdirect. Voucher cannot be used retrospectively. Sales of medicines are at the discretion of your Boots pharmacist. TERMS AND CONDITIONS This voucher must be presented at the till with your purchase. Only one voucher can be used per product and per transaction. The voucher is valid from 23/05/07 to 03/07/07. No cash alternative is available. Photocopies, damaged or defective coupons will not be accepted. This voucher is not transferable. This voucher cannot be used as part payment with Advantage Card points. Offer cannot be used on boots.com or bootsdirect. Voucher cannot be used retrospectively. Sales of medicines are at the discretion of your Boots pharmacist. TERMS AND CONDITIONS This voucher must be presented at the till with your purchase. Only one voucher can be used per product and per transaction. The voucher is valid from 23/05/07 to 31/07/07. No cash alternative is available. Photocopies, damaged or defective coupons will not be accepted. This voucher is not transferable. This voucher cannot be used as part payment with Advantage Card points. Offer cannot be used on boots.com or bootsdirect. Voucher cannot be used retrospectively. Sales of medicines are at the discretion of your Boots pharmacist.

7 300 Advantage Card Points Benadryl Plus Allergy & Congestion Relief Capsules, 24 Always read the label. Save 2 Flixonase Allergy Nasal Spray, 60 Sprays Contains fluticasone; always read the label. FROM 23/05/07 UNTIL 31/07/07 FROM 23/05/07 UNTIL 31/07/07 Save 1 Boots Hayfever Relief Eye Drops, 10ml Contains sodium cromoglicate; always read the label. Save 1 Piriton Allergy Tablets, 30 Contains chlorphenamine maleate; always read the label. FROM 23/05/07 UNTIL 31/07/07 FROM 23/05/07 UNTIL 03/07/07

8 How long do I take my hayfever medicine for? Ask your Boots Pharmacy Team. They ll talk to you about your symptoms and find the most appropriate treatment for you. Options to consider Whether you ve had hayfever for years or recently developed symptoms, Boots has a range of treatments for you to choose from BENADRYL PLUS ALLERGY & CONGESTION RELIEF CAPSULES, 24* Effective relief from allergies and nasal congestion. BOOTS HAYFEVER RELIEF EYE DROPS, 10ml* For the relief of eye symptoms of hayfever. Contains sodium cromoglicate. FLIXONASE ALLERGY NASAL SPRAY, 60 SPRAYS* Relief from airborne allergy symptoms. Helps relieve allergy symptoms for up to 24 hours. Contains fluticasone. PIRITON SYRUP, 150ml* Fast relief from the symptoms of hayfever. Contains chlorphenamine maleate. *Always read the label BOOTS NON DROWSY HAYFEVER AND ALLERGY RELIEF 10mg TABLETS* To relieve the symptoms of hayfever. Contains loratadine. BUY ONE GET ONE FREE BOOTS HAYFEVER AND ALLERGY RELIEF TABLETS, 30* To relieve the symptoms of hayfever. Contains cetirizine hydrochloride. BUY ONE GET ONE FREE Terms & conditions: Buy one get one free on selected hayfever products. Offer available until 3 July 2007, subject to availability. See in store for full details. Sales of medicines are at the discretion of your Boots pharmacist.

9 Remember, whatever your health question, Ask your Boots Pharmacy Team. Join the FREE Boots Health Club Join the Boots Health Club and twice a year we ll send you up to three mini-magazines, packed full of health information, from a choice of eight topics, including allergies. Give us your address and we ll send you regular s on these subjects, too.* As a member of the Boots Health Club, you ll also get a free eye test at Boots Opticians, ½ price on over 50 important health products every time you shop and a 10% discount on Boots brand products not included in the ½ price list, if you re 60 or over. Plus you can take advantage of a revolutionary private health insurance plan, exclusive to Boots Health Club members Join by 31 October 2007 and you ll get ½ price premiums in your first year. And, if you lead a healthy lifestyle, you could get discounted premiums year after year. For more information on this fantastic product, call or visit To join the free Boots Health Club, pick up an application form in store, go to an Advantage Point machine (in larger Boots stores), visit or call ** *One magazine only for Stop smoking. Stop smoking is a 12-week programme of one per week. **BT users are charged at Lo-call rate. Other network rates may vary; please refer to your service provider for details. We may record your call to help us maintain high standards of service. If the product is in the ½ price offer and Boots brand, you pay ½ price. More time for you Join the Free Boots Prescription Collection Service and we will collect your repeat prescriptions for you (participating surgeries only). Then, all you ll have to do is collect your medicines from your local store during opening hours or arrange to have them delivered to your home or work. To sign up, visit pharmacyteam, phone ** or print off an application form on the Advantage Point machine (in larger stores). More information Boots Health Club Allergy UK ; NHS Direct NHS24 (Scotland only) ; Customer care UK customers phone ** UK Minicom users phone **