When you’re feeling miserable with a stuffy nose, headache, and just feeling rotten, it can be hard to tell whether you’re dealing with sinusitis or hay fever. Especially if you’ve never dealt with either of these conditions before.

Both conditions are capable of making you feel under the weather, but they have different causes, symptoms, and treatments that it’s important to understand so you get the right treatment.

With hay fever becoming more common around this time of year, understanding these differences can help you find the right relief and know when to seek further help from your pharmacist or doctor.

If you ever want to discuss your symptoms, our pharmacists can advise you on sinusitis treatment through Pharmacy First and also provide hay fever support if that’s causing your symptoms.

What’s the difference between hay fever and sinusitis?

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to things in the air like pollen, dust mites, or pet hair. Your immune system reacts to these allergens by releasing a chemical called histamine and causing a range of symptoms including:

• Sneezing
• Blocked nose
• Runny nose
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Headaches
• Feeling foggy

One key sign of hay fever is the itchiness, particularly in the eyes and nose, this is a symptom we don’t typically see with sinusitis so if you’re experiencing this, it’s most likely hay fever.

Sinusitis happens when your nasal passages become inflamed, often due to a viral infection, commonly seen symptoms of sinusitis can include:

• Blocked nose
• Thick, yellow or green mucus discharge
• Pain and pressure around the cheeks, eyes, or forehead
• Headaches
• Tooth pain
• Fever
• Difficulty breathing through the nose

Crucially, unlike hay fever, sinusitis does not cause itchiness in the eyes or nose, it more often has facial pain and a thicker nasal discharge.

If you’re not sure which condition you’re dealing with, or you’d like advice on treatment for either condition, visit one of our local pharmacies in Birmingham, Tamworth, Coventry and more. Find your nearest Crest Pharmacy here or book an online consultation here.

How to Treat Hay Fever

If you suspect that you’re dealing with hay fever, there are several treatments that can help manage the symptoms. Visit our pharmacy and we’ll help you choose the right treatment from the options available, which include:

• Antihistamines: These medications block the histamine response and can reduce symptoms like sneezing, itching, and runny nose. They are available over-the-counter at your local Crest Pharmacy.
• Decongestants: These can help relieve nasal congestion by shrinking swollen nasal tissues. They are also available from your pharmacist but we recommend speaking to us to find out how long you can use these for safely.
• Nasal Sprays: Steroid nasal sprays can reduce inflammation and are very effective for hay fever. Some are available over the counter, while others require a prescription from your GP.

Sinusitis Treatment through Pharmacy First

If you suspect you have sinusitis rather than hay fever, we recommend a visit to one of our pharmacies for treatment and advice.

The FREE Pharmacy First service is available out of hours, before 9pm, in any of our branches, or remotely depending on how you wish to book the consultation with us.

You can find your nearest Crest Pharmacy for sinusitis treatment here or book an online consultation here.

Through the pharmacy first scheme we can see patients that have sinusitis symptoms that are 12 years old and over.

When to See Your Doctor

For hay fever, you might not need to see a doctor unless you’ve never been diagnosed with hay fever before and you’re suddenly experiencing symptoms. We’d also recommend seeing your GP if your symptoms are getting worse or not improving with typical over the counter medications or your symptoms are so severe that they’re interfering with your daily life.

For sinusitis, you should see a doctor if:

• Your symptoms last more than 10 days without improvement or longer than 3 weeks.
• You have severe symptoms such as high fever, severe facial pain, or swelling around your eyes.
• You experience recurrent sinus infections.

If symptoms continue or get worse, don’t hesitate to seek medical advice either through our local pharmacies or through your GP.

We’re available to answer any questions you have about these conditions and we’re happy to advise you on treatments or if you need to speak to someone else for help.