HAYFEVER SUFFERERS WARNED OF EXACT DATE POLLEN LEVELS WILL SKYROCKET AMID 26C 'MINI-HEATWAVE'

The Met Office has told the Mirror pollen levels will be high for most of the country this week.

Temperatures are set to increase throughout the week, peaking at 26C in the south of the UK on Saturday, but the pleasant warmth causes plants to release pollen.

Oak and birch are the typical culprits this time of the year but the Met Office forecasts levels of all pollen, including grass, to be high across the country this week. Thursday will be the worst day for hayfever sufferers as levels will be high as far north as Northumbria, and as far south as Cornwall.

All regions of Northern Ireland and Scotland - except Orkney and the Shetlands - have medium levels of pollen forecast for Thursday, the Met Office says.

"High pressure dominates at the moment. The temperatures will be slightly above average for the time of year and Saturday is looking like the warmest day this week, when temperatures could peak at 26C," Andrea Bishop, spokesperson at the Met Office, told the Mirror today.

"But we are encouraging people to take note of the pollen count and UV levels as these will both be high this week. So, if you do have hayfever, it may be unpleasant and you should take relief. Today, pollen levels will be at their highest at around 1pm and they'll remain high for most of the week. There are instances of high pollen levels and UV levels over the next few days, including Saturday, so we are encouraging people to be aware."

The Met Office's map shows high pollen count forecast for most regions in England and Wales each day until at least Sunday. Conditions are likely to change on Sunday or Monday - as thunderstorms are forecast - and so the pollen count is likely to drop for a while at the start of next week.

But hayfever sufferers are now urged to take measures and precautions to help reduce the effects of the pollen. Allergy expert Max Wiseberg said: "Although many hayfever sufferers find that nothing really works or that some remedies help, but nothing does the whole job, or what worked last year doesn’t work today, there is another way. A novel approach is to combine products for greater effect."

He said antihistamines, often in tablet and capsule forms, can relieve most symptoms, such as sneezing, itchy, runny eyes, skin irritation, itchy nose and throat. They are, though, less effective for nasal congestion. Antihistamine nasal sprays can quickly ease itching, sneezing and watering but are generally only proof against mild symptoms.

And keeping doors and windows closed so that tree pollen does not get blown into your home can also help. If the allergen isn’t in your home, then it’s a safe place to be, Mr Wiseberg added.

What are the symptoms of hay fever?

Other symptoms of hay fever, according to the NHS, include:

  • sneezing and coughing
  • a runny or blocked nose
  • itchy, red or watery eyes
  • itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
  • loss of smell
  • pain around your temples and forehead
  • headache
  • earache
  • feeling tired

Less common symptoms, according to Dr Hamed, include: "Loss of smell or anosmia, soreness of the face due to congested sinuses, headaches, ear pain, tiredness, and fatigue."

2024-05-08T12:04:57Z dg43tfdfdgfd