CATS, POLLEN, DUST: 6 steps to beat your allergy

1) TAKE COVER "There are no cures for allergies, only ways of dealing with their symptoms, so avoiding the cause is the most effective strategy by far," explains McManus. The first step in that is determining exactly what you're allergic to, so if you're unsure, either speak to your GP for a referral to a testing clinic or buy yourself a testing kit (see overleaf). "Many people wrongly assume they're allergic to one thing for years before getting it properly diagnosed," McManus says. Hay fever, for instance, can be caused by any of more than 300 types of plants it could just be that you're allergic to one rogue bush lurking in the corner of your garden. "Tips such as wearing wrap-around sunglasses and smearing a little Vaseline inside your nostrils to filter out air-born particles can save you money as well as hours of irritation," she says. For more allergy avoidance tips, visit allergyuk.org.

2) OPEN YOUR EYES If your eyes are puffier than after a viewing of Love Story, use drops such as Opticrom (£4.35 for 5ml) - they'll protect against everything from house mites to hay fever to horsehair. The active ingredient is sodium cromoglicate, which stabilises mast cells (the body's defence cells) and prevents them releasing the dreaded histamine. "It can be used as a treatment for symptoms, but it's better as a preventive, so start using it before you encounter your allergy," explains McManus. They can discolour soft contact lenses and lead to eye hygiene issues, so speak to your GP if you're concerned. Alternately, Otrivine (£2.99 for 10ml) contains an antihistamine and a vasoconstrictor to reduce redness. "It's great for immediate relief, but used long term can lead to problems as it restricts blood flow to the eyes."

3) SNORT A LEGAL DRUG Until drug companies invent an antihistamine suppository, there are two injection-free avenues for allergy medication: down the hatch or up your nose. "When it comes to nasal symptoms, sprays come out streets ahead," explains Ewan. There are steroid-based anti-inflammatory nasal sprays, such as Flixonase (£6.99 for 60 doses), which decrease inflammation but take longer to dampen symptoms, as well as thinning artery linings. Alternatively, there are non- steroidal anti-inflammatories, such as Rynacrom (£4.95 for 60 doses), which work instantly but can result in a return of congestion once you stop using them. "You can also use seawater nasal sprays, such as Sterimar (£5.99 for 100ml), to cleanse the nose of pollen, and relieve nasal congestion and dryness." You can use one in conjunction with a steroid nasal spray. If none of these work for you, speak to your GP who can prescribe more potent sprays, such as Nasanex or Nasacort.

4) WEIGH UP YOUR OTC OPTIONS Although most of us use antihistamine tablets as a first port of call, they're best for people who can't control their symptoms with eye drops or nasal sprays, as they're less focused and not as fast acting, explains Kurt Ramsden, a community pharmacist. Clarityn one of the most popular over-the-counter allergy aids has two main selling points: maximum relief and minimum drowsiness. "Clarityn is simply a trade name for loratadine, so save your pennies and go for the store brand," Ramsden advises. Boots Non Drowsy Hayfever And Allergy Relief costs just 98p for seven tablets, compared to £2.96 for Clarityn, and contains the same quantity of the active ingredient. If you find your allergy is stopping you sleeping, go for Piriton (£2.95 for 30 tablets), which contains the sedating antihistimine chlorphenamine. If none of those do the trick, ask your GP for Neoclarityn which contains a stronger version of loratadine, desloratadine.

5) GIVE NATURE A TASTE OF HER OWN MEDICINE Spreading a bit of Butterbur around may save your sinuses if regular medicine fails you. Scottish researchers found that patients with air-born allergies who popped 50mg of the flowering shrub extract twice daily had 13 per cent better nasal air flow than those who took a placebo. "It's effective against all symptoms of allergic rhinitis, including sneezing, itching and conjunctivitis, working particularly well in the early stages of a reaction," says Dr Andreas Schapowal, the study author. A recent study in the British Medical Journal reported the natural anti-inflammatory was as effective as over-the-counter antihistamines, with none of the side-effects (£12.95 for 60 capsules, foryourhealth.co.uk).

6) TAKE A JAB Your last chance saloon is allergen injections. "Sufferers can begin a course in the autumn, with weekly injections for ten weeks, then monthly for two to three years, eventually providing up to five years symptom-free," says Tony Frew, professor of allergy and respiratory medicine at the University Of Southampton. "The treatment exposes sufferers to gradually increasing doses of pollen, allowing the body to adjust." The jabs can, however, cause life-threatening reactions so make sure you divulge all relevant information to your GP before considering them. Allergy drops, which go under the tongue, are available in the UK for the first time this year, and work in a similar way. "Repeated exposure to a trace amount of the allergen causes the body to build up a natural resistance by up to one-third," says Frew.