IT’S that time of year again – hay fever sufferers are being warned to prepare for 2025’s first pollen bomb.
With parts of the country forecast to hit 20C today, the sunshine and warm weather will be accompanied by rising pollen counts, experts have said.
Warnings for ‘very high’ pollen counts are in place in parts of the country, bringing itchy, sneezy misery to many.
Wales, the West Midlands and North West England will all grapple with ‘very high’ pollen levels today, according to the Met Office.
All other regions of the UK, except Northern Ireland, the Highlands and Eilean Star, and Orkney and Shetland, will also be struck with ‘high’ pollen counts.
Airborne allergens expert Max Wiseberg said: “The unseasonably high temperatures forecast for Wednesday to Friday are likely to spark a sudden increase in pollen.
“This is bad news for hay fever sufferers as many may be unprepared.”
The “warm sunny weather with temperatures in the high teens and early 20s” could result in a ‘pollen bomb’, “a sudden short burst of high pollen production”, Max went on.
But if you suffer from hay fever, you might not be struck with the telltale itchy nose and streaming eyes straight away.
“At this time of year, it is trees that are producing pollen – the grass and weed pollen seasons are later in the year,” Max, creator of HayMax allergen barrier balms, explained.
“The trees most likely to be releasing their pollen in March are alder, hazel, elm and willow.
“And there could also be some early birch – the tree pollen that affects most hay fever sufferers.”
Tree pollen is typically released from late March to mid-May, and affects 25 per cent of hay fever sufferers, according to the Met Office.
Most people are allergic to grass pollen, which is rife from mid-May until July.
Weed pollen can be released at any time, but typically from the end of June to September.
A number of factors will influence pollen peaks, but the temperature plays a big part.
Low temperatures in winter will keep plants and trees dormant for longer into the new year, heralding a later start to hay fever season.
Lack of rainfall can also reduce pollen production.
How to know if you have hay fever
Hay fever is usually worse between late March and September, especially when it’s warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is at its highest.
Hay fever can last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after one to two weeks.
Typical symptoms include:
- Frequent sneezing
- Runny or blocked nose
- Itchy, red or watery eyes (allergic conjunctivitis)
- An itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
- Cough, caused by postnasal drip (mucus dripping down the throat from the back of the nose)
Less commonly, you may also experience:
- The loss of your sense of smell (anosmia)
- Facial pain (caused by blocked sinuses)
- Headaches
- Earache
- Tiredness and fatigue
If you have asthma, your asthma symptoms may get worse when you have hay fever.
But warmer than usual spring temperatures – as is the case now – can usher in the season earlier.
Thankfully, Brits may see their hay fever symptoms ease as pollen counts dip slightly across the country tomorrow.
They will remain ‘very high’ in the North West of England, but dip to ‘high’ in Wales and the West Midlands, while falling to ‘medium’ in the South West, South East, Strathclyde, Tayside and Fife and Grampian.
But by Saturday, pollen levels will be ‘medium’or ‘low’ across most of the UK.
Max shared eight “pillars of wisdom” hay fever sufferers can institute during this year’s first pollen bomb, to ease their agonising symptoms.
1. Start taking antihistamines
“If you favour antihistamines, then if you haven’t started already, it is time to start taking them now, as they can take up to a month to reach maximum effectiveness,” Max warned.
“When we get hay fever it is because our body has reacted to the allergen and produced too many histamines.
“Antihistamines do exactly what it says on the box; they anti the histamine.”
You can purchase these cheaply at pharmacies and supermarkets.
2. Try barrier balms
You can add to your protection from pollen by using balms that stop the particles from entering your body in the first place.
Max said: “Trap the pollen before it gets in your body by applying an organic drug-free allergen barrier balm around the rim of your nostrils and bones of the eyes.”
3. Shut it out
“Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible to stop pollen being blown into your home by the outside wind,” the allergy exper noted.
“And remove your shoes at the door before going indoors to help stop treading pollen around your home.”
4. Use eye drops
If pollen wreaks havoc on your peepers, you can give eye drops a try, Max suggested.
“Eye drops work in one of three ways to reduce your allergic reaction to pollen,” he said.
“Some stop the histamine release, some are anti-inflammatory and others block the inflammation caused by histamine.
“They may take effect immediately, although some take three or four days to build up to maximum effect.
“You can also buy natural eye drops which contain a herb called Euphrasia, also known as Eyebright.”
5. Spray away
If your nose gets runny or blocked, nasal sprays could help.
Max said: “Nasal sprays target congestion and stuffiness as the medicine is targeted directly to the nose, the main entrance for allergens to the body.
“An additional benefit of this is that very little of the active ingredients get any further than the nose, reducing the chance of experiencing side effects.”
6. Protect your peepers
Pollen getting into your hair and eyes can leave you feeling miserable.
“Wearing wraparound sunglasses when outdoors will not only protect your eyes from the sun, but can help stop pollen getting in your eyes,” Max noted.
“And a hat, cap or other head covering will help prevent it getting trapped in your hair.”
7. Wash it off
Tracking pollen into your home after time spent outside means you’ll get no respite from your symptoms.
You can do more than remove your shoes to stop this from happening.
“Wash your face and change your clothes when you return after being outdoors,” Max suggested.
“Better still take a shower. This will help remove the pollen from your body and hair and reduce the amount of pollen on the clothes you are wearing.”
8. Prep your kit
“If you find that the type of pollen you are allergic to is particularly prevalent in your area you may find that combining treatments – in other words creating your own ‘Hay Fever First Aid Kit’ – will give better results,” Max said.
“My recommendation is an organic, drug-free allergen barrier balm to stop pollen getting in, one (and this is important, only one) antihistamine to combat the effects of too many histamines, one (and again only one) steroid nasal spray to help with nasal congestion and nasal symptoms, eye drops to help with watery, streaming, swollen eyes, and one or more other natural remedy.”
