THE bank holiday's festivities might be marred for some, as parts of the UK will be hit by a pollen bomb just in time for Easter.
A GP has shared her top 10 tips to prepare for soaring pollen counts and ease miserable symptoms.
The Easter bank holiday is set to kick off with ‘very high' pollen counts in and the Humber, the East and , and the East and South East of .
Meanwhile, , the and the North East will be buffeted with ‘high' levels of pollen, according to Met Office predictions.
Pollen counts are set to slump slightly on Saturday, though they'll still remain ‘high' in Yorkshire and the Humber, the East and West Midlands, and the East and South East of .
As for Easter Sunday, hay fever sufferers in the North East and South West of England, the East and West Midlands, and should be aware of rising pollen levels.
Up to one in five adults and kids in the UK suffer from hay fever, which brings on uncomfortable, cold-like like a runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing and congestion.
“Unlike a cold, which lasts around three to seven days, symptoms last as long as you are exposed to the allergen and can get particularly bad when pollen levels are high,” Dr Alexis Missick, GP who works with online prescription serviceUK Meds,said.
People may also be struck with coughing, itching in the throat, mouth, nose and ears, headaches and tiredness.
Hay fever is an allergy to pollen, the fine powder produced by plants and trees during , and early .
“Hay fever symptoms occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly identifies pollen as a threat and produces an antibody called immunoglobulin to fight it off,” the GP went on.
“The kind of pollen that people are allergic to can vary, with grass pollen being the most common allergen.
“This is why the vast majority of hay fever sufferers notice their symptoms are at their worst in the late spring and summer.
“However, people can suffer from hay fever due to a variety of pollens; tree pollen is at its peak in the spring, weed pollen is more common in autumn and spores from fungi peak in warm .
“Identifying which kind you are allergic to will, in turn, help you to manage your symptoms.”
Dr Missick shared 10 easy ways to prepare for this weekend's pollen bomb and ease your sniffling, sneezing and itching.
1. Avoid alcohol
Going easy on the booze over the bank holiday might lessen your misery, the GP said.
“Avoiding alcoholic drinks can alleviate or reduce symptoms as alcohol consumption can add to the overall histamine load in the body, subsequently exacerbating hay fever symptoms,” she explained.
2. Slather on Vaseline
Another way to avoid symptoms is to stop pollen from entering your body in the first place.
“Petroleum jelly can be used by those suffering from hay fever symptoms to trap pollen before it is ingested by the body,” according to Dr Missick.
“On days when the pollen count is particularly high, placing Vaseline around the nostril can ease symptoms.”
3. Choose spicy foods
The GP suggested adding some spice to your Easter menu to help bring some relief.
“Consuming spicy food can temporarily relieve hay fever symptoms like nasal congestion or a runny nose by helping to thin the mucus,” she said.
But she noted “although “this is not a long-term cure”.
4. Wear sunnies
Rethinking your accessories is a good idea too – wraparound sunnies might not be the most stylish option out there, but they might stop your eyes from getting sore and itchy.
“Wearing wraparound sunglasses can provide relief from symptoms related to your eyes by creating a barrier that reduces exposure of your eyes to pollen and other allergens present in the environment,” Dr Missick said.
5. Shower it off
If you've spent time out and about, rinsing off pollen afterwards could help ease symptoms.
Dr Missick said: “Showering after being outdoors can be a helpful step in managing hay fever symptoms by removing allergens caught on your body and providing a refreshing effect after being outdoors.”
6. Change it up
Follow the same logic by changing your clothes too.
“Changing your clothes when you get home and ensuring your clothes are washed regularly can reduce the amount of allergens, such as pollen, that may be present on your clothing, contributing to hay fever symptoms,” the GP said.
7. Prep you home
It's worth adding a few tweaks to your cleaning routine – it could spare you the grief of allergy symptoms in your own home.
“Vacuuming and keeping windows and doors closed during peak hay fever symptoms will stop pollen and other allergens from entering and collecting in your home,” the GP suggested.
“This should ensure that even if the pollen count outside is high, inside the home is allergen-free.”
8. Add pollen filters
You might also consider picking up some pollen filters for you car.
“These can be fitted inside the air vents of vehicles to stop pollen from entering when ,” according to Dr Missick.
“They are designed to trap and filter out various airborne particles, including pollen, dust and other allergens.”
9. Rinse your hair
You might want to forget about hair-training for the foreseeable, as washing or rinsing your often could help when it comes to hay fever.
“As well as regular showers, you may want to wash or rinse your hair more during hay fever season as pollen can settle on your hair and stick to strands of hair easily,” the GP said.
10. Keep pets clean
You furry friends might also need a bath.
“In the same way that pollen can stick to human hair, collect pollen and other allergens, which they can spread around your home. Keeping pets clean will help to prevent this.”
