Hay fever sufferers urged to avoid drinking in beer gardens for 2 important reasons

Hay fever sufferers are being urged to avoid drinking in beer gardens during the warmer months to help prevent nasty .

When the sun comes out, many people head straight to their local pub to soak up some rays in the with a cool pint, but for some this may inadvertently be doing more harm than good. contains histamine which means it can make hay fever symptoms worse, as well as interfere with the effectiveness of medications. Many popular alcoholic drinks contain histamine, but red wine, aged spirits like whiskey and rum, beer and sparkling wines, like Prosecco and champagne, all tend to have higher levels.

When these drinks are consumed, the release of histamine in the body can trigger allergy symptoms including sneezing, itching and a runny nose.

Alcohol can also cause blood vessels to widen which can cause headaches, flushed skin and congestion, and it's a diuretic which can lead to dehydration, particularly in warm weather, making hay fever symptoms worse.

Push Doctor, an online consultation service working in partnership with the NHS, says: "Brits flock to their nearest beer garden at the slightest hint of sunshine, but for hay fever sufferers, this is a bad idea on two fronts. Being outdoors for prolonged periods increases your exposure to pollen, but to add insult to injury, your favourite tipple is likely to make your symptoms worse.

"Your body produces histamine as part of the allergy reaction, which in turn, causes inflammation to fend off any perceived attack. However, alcohol also contains histamine, which can aggravate your symptoms. It can also be mildly dehydrating, which can stimulate your body into producing even more histamine."

Herbal health specialists A.Vogel explain: "If you suffer from hay fever, contact with pollen will see the body release histamine as a means of defending itself against something it deems as threatening. Although this is a bit of an overreaction, it still has severe implications as it leads to hay fever symptoms like itchy skin and even congestion.

"So, histamine can be produced by the body but it can also be found in certain foods and drinks too, including alcohol. This means that consuming the likes of beer, wine and cocktails on a regular basis will increase the levels of this chemical in your body. Therefore, hayfever symptoms can be made worse just by the alcohol you drink.

"Although this can be easier said than done, it would be best to cut down your alcohol intake during hay fever season or, at the very least, if you see a flare up in your symptoms."

There is no cure for hay fever and while it can be managed by taking an antihistamine or using a nasal spray, experts say the best way to manage symptoms is often through preventative measures - which includes avoiding alcohol when pollen levels are high.

The pollen count tends to be at its highest between 10am and 3pm, particularly if it's windy, so drinking alcohol in beer gardens is best avoided during these hours. Not only that, the NHS says the sun is also strongest during this period so it's recommended you seek shade at this time of the day, which will also help to limit your contact with pollen.

Allergy UK adds: "Alcohol intake can worsen allergy symptoms as it acts as a suppressant on the immune system. This stops the immune system being as effective at helping to deal with the effects of an allergic reaction. Alcohol affects the way the body processes medicines, so caution is needed when taking medication and drinking.

"Alcohol can make antihistamines less effective at helping to relieve symptoms. Alcohol also can increase the sedative effect of sedating antihistamines (like chlorpheniramine), making people more sleepy and uncoordinated. This can be very dangerous.

"Alcohol intolerance can sometimes cause worsening of conditions such as asthma, urticaria and rhinitis because it opens up the blood vessels. Sensitive people may get a stuffy nose, skin flushes, headaches and feel wheezy."