Hay fever sufferers are bracing themselves for a “pollen bomb” that’s expected to hit more than half of the UK this week, according to the latest predictions from the Met Office. A warning has been issued that those sensitive to pollen may want to take extra precautions as the pollen count rises.
The pollen bomb is expected to hit the South West first, before hitting Wales and Ireland by midweek, and by the weekend, it’s likely to reach the East Midlands.
A “very high” and “high” tree pollen count was issued earlier this week, with the warmer weather playing a role in the production, distribution and dispersion of pollen, according to the Met Office.
Rainfall and changes in temperature can also affect the pollen count and can make hay fever season linger for longer. Changes in weather can also make pollen concentrations higher, a nightmare for those with sensitivities.
Hay fever, or to give it its proper name seasonal allergic rhinitis, affects almost 13 million people across England alone, with one in four adults and one in ten children estimated to suffer from the condition.
Numbers of hay fever sufferers have also increased year on year, according to the the World Allergy Organisation, meaning the UK has one of the highest rates of hay fever in the world, alongside Australia and New Zealand.
So, with hay fever season on the way, how can sufferers alleviate their symptoms? Public health nutritionist Dr Frankie Philips has suggested trying some home remedies, which can be an inexpensive way to deal with hay fever.
Dr Frankie has suggested five inexpensive drinks you can make at home, which can help with hay fever symptoms such as runny noses, sneezing, a dripping nose, or watery eyes.
The five drinks he recommended were:
Dr Frankie Phillips said: “Allergic rhinitis is linked with raised levels of inflammatory markers. Since evidence from scientific reviews suggests that drinking 100% fruit juice reduces the concentration of some inflammatory markers, it makes sense to include 100% fruit juice in the diet is a tasty and enjoyable way to help keep inflammation in check.”
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Cookie Notice.
