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Topics: Health, UK News, Explained, News, Food and Drink
Madison Burgess
Topics: Health, UK News, Explained, News, Food and Drink
If you're a hay fever sufferer in the UK, you'll have likely woken up this morning sneezing, coughing, and feeling a bit worse for wear.
That's because the dreaded time of year is back, when the pollen count is on the rise again.
Despite springtime bringing lighter evenings and mornings, sunny days, and more outdoor plans, it also comes with an annoying health issue for millions of Brits.
This weekend, the Met Office has labelled the pollen count as 'very high' in numerous regions, including the North West and East of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
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Meanwhile, the West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, Strathclyde, the Highlands, London, and the South West of England all have 'high warnings,' to name just a few.
Even if you've prepared by keeping topped up on antihistamines, a doctor has revealed that there's one little-known reason why they may not be working.
Speaking on BBC's Morning Live today (24 April), Dr Punam Krishan revealed the huge mistake you could be making without realising - and it's all to do with what you're drinking.
The expert explained: "I think this is lesser known. There's a very common antihistamine called Fexofenadine, which people take."
Dr Punam explained that drinking certain fruit juices can reduce the effectiveness and the absorption of the antihistamine, so you might want to skip your morning OJ.
She advised: "Now, what people don't know is that there's a transporter in the gut that Fexofenadine is absorbed via. Now, there are certain fruit juices like orange juice, grapefruit juice, apple juice, that can actually block that transporter, so it means that the absorption of Fexofenadine is affected - significantly reduced by about 70%.
"So I would always say when you're taking that, take it with water and avoid any fruit juices a few hours before or a few hours after."
The doctor went on to remind people that antihistamines can interact with other drinks and medications too, such as alcohol.
Dr Punam warned: "Of course, when it's nice and sunny, you might want a wee glass of wine or a beer, but alcohol could increase histamine in the body, which can make your hayfever symptoms worse.
"But alcohol's also a sedative, so if you're combining that with antihistamines, it can potentially make you feel more drowsy. You know, it affects your alertness, your reaction times, et cetera. So just be wary of that."
She also shut down reports that antihistamines are linked to weight gain and urged sufferers not to stop taking the tablets because of this rumour.
The doctor said, "I think that there have been some headlines about that, which I feel can maybe make people pause and maybe even stop taking their antihistamines - I don't want people to do that.
"The science bit is that histamine can affect things like your hunger and your energy levels, so, of course, antihistamines that come in can affect that.
"Sometimes I hear people saying 'it makes me feel a bit hungrier, a bit more sluggish', but this isn't a common phenomenon."
She reassured that it's not a side effect that's listed, and there's 'not a huge amount of evidence that suggests that antihistamines - especially the newer ones that are non-drowsy - cause any significant weight gain'.
Dr Punarm urged: "So I don't want anyone panicking, I don't want anyone stopping their antihistamines. If you notice that you are a bit hungrier, just be mindful of that and, of course, if something's significantly affecting your fatigue, then speak to your GP, and we can always change which one you're on."