While many of us are enjoying the current good weather, this can prove a difficult time for those with hay fever, pharmacists have warned.

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen. While most people are affected by grass pollen, pollen from trees and flowers can also be a problem for some sufferers. Symptoms can include a runny nose, watery eyes, sinus pain, sneezing, coughing and headaches.

Hay fever season runs from April to September, however May, June and July are peak season. One in five people in Ireland is affected.

"Hay fever can make life extremely uncomfortable for people, especially those with severe symptoms. It can greatly interfere with the sufferer's sleep, affect their daily routines and disrupt their productivity at school or at work," commented Dublin-based pharmacist, Ann Marie Horan, of the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU).

Some 87% of people with hay fever experience sleep deprivation as a result of the condition and it can also cause problems for those with asthma. An estimated 80% of people with asthma face an increased risk of suffering an attack because they also have hay fever.

The IPU is calling on those affected to take preventative step to help minimise their hay fever symptoms. It encouraged people to ask their pharmacist about the treatment options open to them. It also offered the following advice:

-Keep doors and windows closed at home and when driving
-Put a little Vaseline inside the nose to trap pollen and stop it being inhaled
-Wear wraparound sunglasses, which help prevent pollen entering the eyes
-Do not mow the grass and avoid working in the garden
-Do not dry clothes outside if possible
-Wash your hair, hands and face when you come back indoors and change your clothes to get rid of any pollen.