How to beat hay fever misery: As Britain faces a heatwave this week, our top experts answer nine vital questions about coping with the pollen bomb (including why local honey WON'T help...
) By Jo Macfarlane Published: 02:43, 23 June 2024 | Updated: 02:43, 23 June 2024 e-mail View comments They are the all-too familiar symptoms for millions at this time of year – swollen, itchy eyes, a runny nose and a throat raw from sneezing. As temperatures start to rise, it’s a sign that the hay fever season is in full swing. And experts say this year is set to be more miserable than most owing to record levels of pollen.
Hay fever symptoms normally appear when the pollen count exceeds 50, according to the Met Office Forecasters predict today that virtually the entire country will experience very high pollen levels – and, they claim, conditions are perfect for a so-called ‘pollen bomb’. It will spell misery for the 13 million people – or one in four adults and one in ten children – who suffer from an allergy to pollen. The NHS has already revealed that the number of people searching for advice on its website has more than doubled this past week.
Pollen levels are expected to be so bad for hay fever sufferers that the charity Asthma + Lung UK has issued an alert, warning those susceptible to severe symptoms to ‘ avoid going outdoors as much as possible ’. So with all that in mind, what can you do to cope best? And is it possible to stave off the miserable hay fever symptoms.
