Hay fever

If you feel as if you have a cold you can't shake off, especially if you also have watery, itchy eyes and an itchy throat or ears, it may be hay fever.

Climate change is bringing in more pollens which gain power to irritate when they interact with modern pollutants. That's why more of us have pollen allergies than ever - one expert predicts half of us may be affected by hay fever within 50 years.

Beat it

• If you're suffering now, the problem is likely to be grasses or flowers. Once you know, you can avoid the culprits.
• Stock up on pharmacy remedies from nasal sprays and eye drops to antihistamine tablets, which suppress the allergic reaction.
• Slip on shades when you go out, to protect your eyes from pollen, and line your nostrils with petroleum jelly to stop irritation. An electrostatic air filter in your car will help, too. When you come home, undress outside your bedroom and shower and wash your hair before bed to get rid of pollen.
• If remedies aren't working, see your GP for stronger treatment.

Sunburn

Burning is a sign you've seriously damaged your skin and, besides looking awful, it's a significant risk factor for skin cancer. Prevention is always better than cure but we all make mistakes at some time, such asrunning out of sunscr een, missing a specific area like our feet - or forgetting to reapply sunscreen after swimming.

Beat it

• Keep the burned area out of the sun until the skin has healed.
• Cool the area by sponging it with tepid, rather than cold, water.
• If the burn is mild, apply calamine lotion or after sun to keep it cool and more comfortable.
• If it's severe, treat it like any other burn. Keep it clean and dry, and apply special burn cream and possibly burn dressings. If the skin breaks, apply antiseptic cream to avoid an infection.
• Seek medical advice if a small child has been sunburnt, especially if the burn covers a large area as this will affect their ability to control their temperature. You should also get advice if there is severe blistering or if someone has a fever, dizziness, headaches or nausea - which are signs of heatstroke.

Tick bites (Lyme disease)

Ticks are on the increase in the UK - so if you're going to woods, heath and moorland, especially in tick-infested country like the New Forest, be careful. Some ticks carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Besides making you ill for weeks, if untreated it can eventually lead to heart problems, joint damage, even meningitis, though this is rare.

Beat it

• When I walk in areas where I know there are ticks, I cover up with closed shoes, long sleeves and trousers tucked into thick socks or boots.
• Watch out - a tick's the size of a poppy seed, so it could feed on your blood for hours you notice it.
• If you spot one, grasp its mouthparts - not the main body - with tweezers. Apply gentle pressure and pull upwards, firmly and steadily. Next, clean the surrounding area with antiseptic - don't use your fingers or crush the tick's body.
• Look out for bites - at first they're a lump with a small scab on the surface. If you have Lyme disease, you'll usually develop a reddish rash in a ring shape, which gradually spreads out. Other symptoms include tiredness, headaches, joint pains and flu-like symptoms. Tell your GP you've been to an area with ticks. Antibiotics should cure it.

Swimmer's ear

The medical name is otitis externa - inflammation of the external ear canal - but it's known as swimmer's ear because you can get it from swimming pools.

It's often caused by a bacterial or fungal infection and, as pools get more crowded in summer, the risk of infection increases. However, it can also be due to an allergic reaction to shampoo, for instance. Your ear will probably be red, swollen, itchy or painful, with scaly skin and discharge.

Beat it

• If you're susceptible, wear earplugs when swimming and be fussy about what sort of pools you choose - avoid those that tend to be overcrowded as they're more difficult to keep clean. Don't insert objects into your ears to clean them and dry your ears with a hairdryer rather than pushing in the corner of a towel.
• Keep the affected ear as dry as possible - adults can take a paracetamol if it's painful.
• See your GP, who may prescribe antibiotic or antifungal ear drops. You may need your ear cleaning first with a microsuction device to remove wax, discharge or debris. Medication is sometimes given on an ear wick, a cotton gauze plug inserted into your ear canal and left for a couple of days.

Summer smog

Smog isn't just a winter problem. In warm weather, sunlight reacts with pollutants, such as traffic fumes, to form a cocktail of gases which can aggravate breathing problems in sensitive people.

As the Met Office predicted a "barbecue summer" this year we could be in for higher than usual levels before autumn arrives. Those who already suffer from conditions such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis are especially at risk.

Beat it

• If you're at risk, avoid making car journeys and being energetic outdoors in the afternoon, when smog levels are at their peak.
• Watch out for smog alerts on weather forecasts.
• Be ready for symptoms to worsen and make doubly sure you have your inhalers or other medication with you. If necessary, see your GP to adjust your treatment.

Additional research: MADELEINE BAILEY

Source: Daily Mirror

Pic: Mike Johnson