Could sea water really be a miracle cure for hayfever with NO side effects?

A persistent itch at the back of your throat, an uncontrollable stream of sneezes and the dull ache of a congested head.

The symptoms come as a miserable warning sign to millions each year - the hayfever season has begun.

This year experts predict an extra five million people will fall victim to the allergy for the first time due to the increase in prevalence of this condition.

And they, along with 15 million current sufferers, will be forgiven for failing to mount the same level of enthusiasm for the glorious sunshine and warm temperatures, as their allergy-free peers.

While summer marks welcome relief after a dreary winter, for hayfever sufferers the changing seasons brings with it impending misery as a dreaded cloud of invisible pollen spores descends.

Over the course of the next 15 years, the problems is set to worsen as experts estimate another 10 million people fall victim to the allergy.

WHAT IS HAYFEVER? 

Hayfever is also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis.

It is a condition caused by an allergy to the pollen released into the air by trees, plants and grasses.

Symptoms range from a runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, to more serious breathing problems, known as seasonal allergic asthma.

The allergic reaction is triggered when the pollen, which people are sensitive too, is inhaled through the nose and comes into contact with the nasal lining.

In those plagued by hayfever the immune system falsely recognises the allergens - protein in pollen grains - as a severe threat and reacts by massive protective immune response- releasing of histamine, and inflammatory mediators from mast cells. 

Histamine makes blood vessels wider and provokes swelling of the inside of the nose as well as itchiness when it affects the nerve ending, alongside with irritation of the eyes and tearing. 

The reaction causes the nasal passages to shrink in size, and this swelling in the nasal passage is responsible for symptoms including a blocked and runny nose

The histamine also causes the lining of the eyes and sinuses, setting off symptoms there, as well as in the nose. 

While unpleasant, sneezing, congestion and a runny nose are all symptoms of increased immune response, designed to protect the body, either by trapping and expelling the dreaded allergen, or by preventing it from reaching further into the body.

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Dr Rudenko said the nose in the the body's defense against allergens and so is the right place to start fighting the symptoms locally 

THE NOSE IS THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE 

In combating the misery caused by hayfever, experts are quick to stress a bid to defeat the allergy must first focus on the nose. 

Dr Rudenko, allergy and immunology consultant and medical director in the London Allergy and Immunology Centre told MailOnline: 'The nose is a vital but often neglected organ. 

'The natural protective film of special moisture and tiny moving cilia along the nasal lining provide clearance of the air we breathe, trap dust, nasty bugs and allergens carry them away before they can cause harm to the organism.'

A CLEAN NOSE IS A HEALTHY NOSE 

Dr Rudenko said waging war on hayfever symptoms can start long before the pollen season descends.

He told MailOnline it is vital that sufferers ensure their nose is kept in good condition all year round.

'If the nasal lining is dry or the tiny hairs, called cila, are blocked and cannot move, the nose does not function.' he said.

'Washing your nose daily can clean, clear and moisturise the nose to ensure it is in top working condition.' 

Dr Rudenko recommended Stérimar Nasal Hygiene made of 100 per cent natural sea water, to 'ensure your first line of defence is in top working condition to filter and filter and remove particles and allergens effectively'.

He said the spray is isotonic- containing the same salt balance as the cells in the human body, making it gentle and effective at washing away contaminants and debris trapped in the nose.

'When used regularly, this can help to delay the onset of allergic reaction when the levels of allergens rise by reducing exposure.' he added.

NATURAL SEA WATER OFFERS RELIEF WITHOUT SIDE EFFECTS

As the summer months approach Dr Rudenko said hayfever sufferers should begin to mount their next line of attack against the allergy.

While some dismiss natural remedies as being 'ineffective' against allergies, new innovations linked to sea water mean natural management of the symptoms can offer relief without the side effects often linked to over-the-counter medicated options.

The nose is a vital but often neglected organ. Not only does it play a role in our sense of smell, taste, and the sound of our voice, the nose is the first line of defence against airborne contaminants

Dr Michael Rudenko 

There has emerged a series of natural products that work in harmony with the body to enhance the natural protective functions.

Dr Rudenko said the benefits of natural remedies lie in the fact they are steroid and preservative free.

'It means they can be used by anyone that starts to feel the effects of hayfever,' he told MailOnline.

'This includes pregnant women, breastfeeding mums and children under the age of three.

'This spray has no known side effects, and the routine with sea water can potentially reduce the amount of medication a sufferer needs to control their symptoms.'

He said among the most effective is Stérimar Stop and Protect Allergy Response nasal spray.

The spray works by creating an invisible film on the inside of the nasal lining, he explained.

'It prevents and reduces the contact of allergens with the lining of the nasal cavity to provide reinforced clearance of mucosa and reducing allergic symptoms,' he told MailOnline.

'With a base of natural sea water and a patented complex, the spray, which is enriched with sea minerals, unblocks nasal passages and encapsulates, inactivates and neutralises the allergens, helping to stop symptoms fast.'

In addition, he said, the spray offers long-lasting hydration to prevent the delicate nasal lining from drying out.

'Sea water can be used when needed and we often recommend it in clinic as a complementary treatment to prescribed medication to get an add on benefits,' Dr Rudenko said.

He said one of its greatest benefits is the fact that, unlike other nasal sprays, Stérimar Stop and Protect Allergy Response, can be used throughout the hayfever season for anyone three years and up including pregnant women, breast feeding mothers.

Dr Rudenko explained that widely available decongestant medications, including nasal sprays, work by effecting the muscles inside the blood vessels.

They should never be used for longer than seven days at a time. If used for longer or with insufficient brakes between courses they can cause irreversible damage of blood vessels known as 'rhinitis medicamentosa - leading to permanent blockage of the nose that is very difficult to treat even with surgical procedures.

As well as Stérimar nasal sprays, other measures can be taken to help ease hayfever symptoms.

Washing your hair before bed is said to relieve symptoms as pollen is sticky and can transfer to pillows, affecting sufferers during the night.

Pollen can live in carpets so vacuuming regularly can also help as well as using a damp or microfibre cloth to collect dust and stop pollen from becoming airborne.