Problem not not be sneezed at
Blocked nose, constant sneezing, itchy eyes, headache? It's a fair bet you are one of the UK's nine million hay fever sufferers, writes Neil Thomas.
Blocked nose, constant sneezing, itchy eyes, headache? It's a fair bet you are one of the UK's nine million hay fever sufferers, writes Neil Thomas.
The temperatures have soared over the past few days - and so have the pollen counts. And while the majority bask in welcome sunshine, heatwaves and balmy summer days bring misery to some.
Hay fever can disturb your sleep and leave you listlessness and even depressed - and the symptoms can last for months every year.
Hay fever, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, is a reaction to pollen and fungal spores. Each sufferer will show a slightly different pattern of symptoms, depending on the particular pollen or spores they react to.
As different plants come into flower at different times, so the picture of symptoms changes. For example, the hay fever season generally begins with the release of pollen by trees. This may start as early as February and continue to late May.
Most people with hay fever are allergic to grass pollens, which appear between May and September but are at their peak in June and July.
Later in the year, from summer into autumn, levels of weed pollen and fungal spores rise and cause problems.
"The calendar is a useful tool for people who want to know what might be causing their hay fever," said Professor Jean Emberlin, of the National Pollen and Aerobiology unit, based at the University of Worcester.
"Some people are affected by many different types of pollen and suffer for months whereas others are allergic to a specific pollen and may only suffer for a couple of weeks.
"If they can detect which pollen is causing their symptoms, they can go out of their way to avoid it."
Keeping an eye on the pollen count and finding out how to minimise exposure are essential. Symptoms usually begin when the pollen count exceeds 50.
The unit at Worcester has been measuring pollen and fungal spores in the air for more than 40 years. It has more than 30 rooftop sites across Britain, from Scotland to the Isle of Wight and uses data from the sites to determine which irritants are most active in which months, thereby forming a pollen calendar.
For example, hazel and yew trees start flowering as early as January while pollen from the mugwort weed peaks as late as July.
The pollen count is the number of pollen grains found in each cubic metre of air. But this count doesn't necessarily reflect how many flowers are around. Another crucial factor is the weather, which can determine how much pollen is released from flowers and where it travels to. The amount of sunshine or rain and the speed and direction of the wind are also factors.
During the pollen season, plants release pollen early in the morning. On a sunny day, as the day gets warmer, pollen levels may rise, and the pollen is carried high into the air. Pollen counts peak at about 5pm to 6pm in the countryside and a couple of hours later in the city.
On very humid and windy days, pollen will spread and cause more problems. If it rains, the pollen may be washed or cleared from the air.
Ways to reduce exposure
Things you can do to try to reduce your exposure to pollen:
Watch the pollen count.
Avoid going outside as much as possible when it's humid and windy, when pollen counts are high.
Protect your eyes from pollen with sunglasses.
Keep car windows shut as much as possible.
Don't put washing out to dry if counts are high as pollen may get trapped in the fibres of clothes and bed linen.
Plan your garden carefully. Choose low-risk plants. Send out a fine spray on the hose sprinkler before you go in the garden to dampen down pollen in the air.
Wipe down pets with a damp towel after they've been out in the garden, as they may pick up pollen on their fur.
Before you go to bed, have a shower to get rid of any pollen caught on your body or hair.
Think carefully about holidays. Pollen levels may be lower on the coast because sea breezes blow it inland.
How can you treat it?
Many people with hay fever find that medicines are essential to help them through the season.
The main treatments include antihistamines (which inhibit the effects of histamines, released during an allergic reaction), steroids (which reduce inflammation in the nose or eyes) and decongestants (which may help to unblock the nose, but can make the problem worse if used long-term).
The key, though, is always talk to your doctor and pharmacist to find out which medication might suit you best. "Allergy shots" are occasionally recommended if the allergen cannot be avoided and if symptoms are hard to control.
This includes regular injections of the allergen, given in increasing doses that may help the body adjust to the antigen. These tend to be offered as a last resort as the therapy is more expensive.
Herbs like eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis), nettle (Urtica dioica), and bayberry (Myrica cerifera), are sometimes used, as well as feverfew and turmeric.