Hay Fever in Japan: What You Need to Know
It's hay fever season in Japan, and with many people reporting worse allergy symptoms earlier in the year every year, it seems like hay fever is becoming more and more of a nuisance for residents in Japan. If you suffer from hay fever in your home country, you may be worried about whether you'll still have allergies when you come to Japan. Some people who have never had hay fever may suddenly find themselves coughing and sneezing in the spring in Japan because of it. So if you are suffering, or think you are suffering, from hay fever in Japan, here's everything you need to know about hay fever symptoms, how to protect yourself from and avoid pollen, some recommendations for different kinds of over-the-counter hay fever medicine, and some tips on what kind of food to eat or avoid if you have hay fever.
Hay Fever Symptoms to Watch Out For
If you are sneezing, have a stuffy/runny nose, itchy eyes, a scratchy throat, or start to develop a cough from the scratchy throat, it could be from hay fever. Some people may also get headaches and feel groggy or tired from hay fever, but it depends on the person.
Many people feel that hay fever symptoms tend to be stronger than in their home country, to the point where it makes going about their daily lives much more challenging. That's why, if possible, it's best to try to protect yourself from symptoms in the first place.
How to Protect Yourself from Hay Fever in Japan
While it can be very difficult to avoid hay fever completely, here are some things you can do to help keep your hay fever in check.
・Wear a Mask
It is common to see people in Japan wearing masks during the early days of spring to protect themselves from pollen. Wearing a mask outdoors can help you avoid breathing in pollen, which should hopefully protect you from severe hay fever symptoms.
・Use an Air Purifier
If you have bad hay fever, it may be worth investing in an air purifier for your home. Keeping the air in your home clean from pollen using an air purifier with a HEPA filter can help ensure that you won't have bad hay fever symptoms while indoors. These air purifiers can be pricy, but well worth the cost if you find yourself stricken by hay fever even while at home.
・Dry Your Clothes Indoors
If possible, after doing the laundry hang your clothing inside to dry. That way your laundry won't collect pollen while drying outside, leading to you having to deal with hay fever inside your home when you bring the laundry in.
・Keep Windows Closed
On days when there is lots of pollen in the air or on windy days in the spring, try to keep your windows shut as much as possible so that the pollen cannot get inside your house.
・Stay Clean and Keep Your Home Clean
At the end of the day, take a shower or at least wash your hair to get rid of any pollen that might've built up on you over the day. Wash your clothing and bedding regularly as well to get rid of any pollen as well. Vacuuming and cleaning your home often is also a good idea. Doing so will help you keep yourself and your home as pollen-free as can be.
・Keep Your Pets Indoors
If you have pets, they can bring in pollen from outside. It may not be a bad idea to avoid letting your pets out if possible during hay fever season. If you need to take them out, brush them and wipe them down before letting them back in the house in order to keep your pets from bringing in pollen.
・Check the Pollen Forecast
Many news programs, weather websites, and apps in Japan provide daily pollen forecasts you can check to get a sense of whether that day will be particularly bad for your hay fever. If the forecast says there will be a lot of pollen in the air, you may want to think about avoiding outdoor activities if you can.
Allergy Medicine in Japan
Since hay fever is so common among Japanese people, there are tons of medicines available over the counter at drugstores in Japan. Here is some information on the kind of hay fever medicine you can easily find anywhere in Japan.
・Antihistamines
If you have allergies, you are probably already familiar with antihistamines. Antihistamines will help provide relief for sneezing, runny noses, and itchiness, and are commonly taken by people with allergies. There are several different brands of antihistamines available in Japan, including the following.
・SS Pharmaceuticals Allegron 20: Taken once a day to relieve allergy symptoms. It's fairly strong so it is recommended you take it before bed and don't take it before driving or drinking alcohol.
・Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Allegra FX: This antihistamine is taken twice a day: in the morning and in the evening. It is specifically marketed as not causing drowsiness, but you still shouldn't drink alcohol after taking it.
・Nasal Sprays
Saline and steroid-based nasal sprays are also available at drugstores in Japan. If you just want to treat your runny nose, a saline spray may do the trick. If your nose is particularly congested, you may want to use a steroid-based spray. Here are some nasal spray options you can find in Japan.
・Nasal αAR 0.1% 10ml: This is a steroid-based spray you can use up to four times a day to relieve congestion. It is recommended that you not use it for more than three months in a year, meaning that you should be okay to use it throughout hay fever season, but be careful if your allergies extend beyond the three months.
・AG Allercut EXc for Seasonal Allergies: Another steroid-based spray, this spray includes peppermint oil and menthol additives to provide a cooling sensation when you use it, which may help you feel a bit more relaxed or refreshed. This spray is also usable up to four times a day.
・Eye Drops
If hay fever is causing you to have itchy or watery eyes, you'll probably want to pick up some eye drops. There are a wide range of eye drops available in Japan, but here are a couple of options.
・Mytear Eyetect Alpitatto N: These eye drops are a mix of antihistamines and antiallergenic agents, so they will help with your itchy eyes while also helping to suppress other hay fever symptoms.
・Rohto Algard Clinical Shot m: These are particularly strong eye drops that you may want to look into if you have particularly bad allergies, including severely itchy eyes. They may help relieve your allergy symptoms if other allergy medications aren't doing enough.
Food to Eat (and Avoid) During Hay Fever Season
While not a quick fix for allergy symptoms, there are some foods and nutrients that, if you eat them often enough, may help you manage or avoid allergy symptoms. On the flipside, there are some foods that can make your allergy symptoms worse. Let's look at what food to eat and what food to avoid this hay fever season.
・Do Eat Foods Rich in Omega-3s
The anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids help combat the inflammation that accompanies allergic reactions like hay fever. Foods rich in omega-3s include salmon, mackerel, sardines, flaxseeds, and walnuts. Eating these foods regularly may help your body handle hay fever better.
・Do Eat Vitamin C-rich Foods
Vitamin C acts as a natural antihistamine, reducing your body's response to allergies. Foods high in Vitamin C, such as oranges, kiwis, bell peppers, broccoli, and strawberries,s can help keep your hay fever symptoms under control.
・Do Eat Local Honey
Introducing small amounts of local honey into your diet might help your immune system become more accustomed to the pollen from your local area. This won't help you in the short-term, but it is believed that long-term, this can help build up your resistance to local pollen.
・Do Eat Probiotics
A healthy gut can lead to a stronger immune system, which can potentially help you handle allergies better. Probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and fermented products can help strengthen your gut flora.
・Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol can weaken your gut, which might allow more pollen allergens to enter your bloodstream, making your allergies worse. It also contains histamine, which can worsen allergy symptoms.
・Avoid Processed Foods
These often contain preservatives and artificial additives that irritate the immune system and worsen inflammation. Processed snacks, canned goods, and ready-to-eat meals may contribute to worse allergy symptoms.
・Avoid Dairy Products
For some people, dairy products can lead to more mucus, which can worsen hay fever symptoms like stuffy noses.
・Avoid Foods High in Histamine
Foods like aged cheeses, smoked meats, fermented foods, and certain fish are rich in histamine, which can trigger hay fever symptoms or make them worse.
Hopefully, all of these tips can help you manage your hay fever this spring. Remember, if your hay fever is severely impacting your daily life, you can always visit a doctor to get some advice or medicine.
