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DR HILARY'S DIAGNOSIS

Tricia faces a triple whammy because hay fever is becoming more common, it’s starting earlier in the year, and it can worsen the nasal congestion which many women experience during pregnancy.

But Tricia suffers all year-round, so it sounds like she’s developed perennial rhinitis rather than seasonal rhinitis (hay fever), with a range of allergens upsetting her immune system.

Clearly, she can’t avoid them all, but allergy-free bedding, pillows and mattresses will help, as will having wood floors and blinds instead of carpets and curtains, to help reduce dust and house dust mites.

Tricia is right to avoid medication while pregnant, but after she’s finished breastfeeding, her daily non-sedating antihistamine tablets are safe long-term.

Together with nasal sprays, they should be effective.

If not, Tricia could consider immunotherapy, where a series of fortnightly injections of allergen are given in slowly increasing doses to ‘desensitise’ her body and stop it from reacting so strongly.

'My sneezing fits are driving me crazy'

EVERY WEEK A CELEB ASKS OUR FABULOUS DOCTOR FOR DIAGNOSIS. THIS WEEK IT’S HEARTBEAT'S TRICIA PENROSE, 37

I’ve suffered from hay fever since I was a child – I can remember having itchy, runny, red eyes and sneezing all the time at school – but it’s got worse as I’ve grown older and now other things set me off too, like dust, furniture polish and household sprays.

I’m even allergic to some perfumes.

The make-up artist at Heartbeat can’t wear scent when I’m working, otherwise I have a sneezing fit and my eyes start to feel sore.

Dog and cat hair irritates me, which makes it hard to visit people with pets.

My mum has two Persian cats and if I stay over, I can hardly breathe.

I start wheezing and the roof of my mouth and inner-ears start itching. It drives me mad.

When I was pregnant with my son Jake, now four, I tried acupuncture and herbal remedies but they didn’t work.

Sometimes I use Beconase, a nasal spray, which helps a bit.

I’ve tried various antihistamines but some make me drowsy and that’s no good when I’m filming.

Zirtec works quite well, but I don’t like taking a tablet every day.

Besides, I’m four months pregnant so I can’t take any now.

I’ve recently been having sneezing fits and my husband Mark heard that the hay fever season has started early this year.

I’m dreading the summer when it gets worse.

I can’t sleep at night and it makes me irritable.

What can I do?”

Catch Heartbeat on Sundays, 8pm, ITV1.

Words: Sue Crawford; Photography: Rex; Tricia Penrose: The Album is available from www.triciapenrose.co.uk

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