MILLIONS of us are plagued by irritating, uncomfortable and sometimes painful hay fever symptoms.
Thankfully, they tend to be short-lived and can be treated with and home .
But in some instances, these could signal something more serious, including , experts warn.
This is rare, but it is important to be able to recognise when you could be at risk as .
are due to be ‘high' or ‘very high' over the weekend, particularly across , the East and West , and the East and South of England.
So whether it's , a or a , here are eight of the most and when they could indicate something more sinister is going on.
Irritated eyes
Most people with will be familiar with the agonising that comes with it.
Whether you're left dying to itch your waterline, have bright red inner corners or your peepers simply won't stop watering, it can be a real pain.
But if your eye irritation lasts for a long time, particularly if well past your other symptoms, it could be a sign of something more sinister.
One symptom of , also known as ocular cancer, is “eye irritation that is not going away”, according to the NHS.
Others include , bulging, a lump on the eyelid, partial or total vision loss, a dark patch that's getting bigger or shadows, flashes of light or .
“These symptoms can also be caused by more minor eye conditions, so they're not necessarily a sign of cancer,” the service adds.
“But it's important to get the symptoms checked by a doctor as soon as possible.”
There are several different types of eye cancer, including eye melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and .
About 850 cases are diagnosed in the UK every year.
Sneezing
Another hallmark of hay fever – .
Generally, this won't ever be a sign of cancer. But some forms of the disease can cause flu-like symptoms.
This is particularly true for like , lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), according to Blood Cancer UK.
One in 16 men and one in 22 womenwill develop at some point in their lives, the estimates.
Runny nose
A runny nose is a common symptom of , but in rare cases, it can also be a sign of , the NHS warns.
Some people also experience a that doesn't go away (and usually only affects one side), , a decreased sense of smell, and mucus draining into the back of the nose and throat.
“These symptoms can be similar to more common and less serious conditions, such as a cold or sinusitis,” the NHS adds.
Nasal and sinus cancer is rare in the UK, with around 460 cases every year.
Itchy throat
There are many reasons your throat, mouth, nose or ears could be feeling itchy, with a major one being .
But itchiness or soreness can occur in patients with any form of .
There are more than 30 areas where the disease can develop, including the mouth, lips, voice box (larynx), throat (pharynx), salivary glands, nose, sinuses, and the area at the back of the nose and mouth (nasopharynx).
An irritated or sore throat tends to be more common in cancer of the oropharynx or hypopharynx, the NHS says.
Coughing
“Symptoms of lung cancer can be hard to spot, especially with spring now in full bloom,” the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation says.
“A persistent cough or wheeziness, for example, could be put down to seasonal allergies such as hay fever.
“However, if symptoms like a persistent cough continue, it could be an indicator of something else going on.”
If your cough hasn't gone away after three weeks, or it seems to be getting worse, speak to your GP.
There are almost 50,000 new cases every year in the UK, and it has a 10-year survival rate of just 10 per cent.
Loss of smell
Like hay fever, nasal or sinus cancer can cause your to worsen.
This can also occur as a result of a in some cases, the Brain Tumour Charity warns.
“It’s also worth noting that, although not technically a brain tumour, an olfactory neuroblastoma (also called a esthesioneuroblastoma) can decrease the sense of smell, create nosebleeds, lead to watery eyes, and other symptoms,” the charity adds.
“If you have lost your taste or smell, it’s important that you don’t panic.
“Brain tumours are rare, and other medical issues can lead to a loss of taste and smell.
“However, if you’re worried then talk to your doctor.”
There arearound 12,700 new brain, other central nervous system and intracranial tumours cases in the UK every year, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) estimates.
Headaches
Common allergies, including hay fever, can trigger sinus .
These tend to feel like a dull or throbbing pain in the temples, forehead, nose and cheekbones, according to Allergy & Asthma Specialists.
But this kind of sensation can also indicate several types of cancer.
Though it will most likely be down to hay fever, , a , a cold or another common ailment, more than half of all people who are diagnosed with a report experiencing headaches, the Brain Tumour Charity says.
“Doctors generally do not worry if there is a clear reason for your headache, and if you don’t have any other brain tumour symptoms,” the charity adds.
“But, headaches are a symptom of brain tumours, so it’s important to understand brain tumour headaches so that you know the signs to look out for.”
Pain caused by a tends to be worse in the morning, aggravated by straining, , shouting or bending over, and not managed by , experts say.
They can feel like throbbing or a dull ache, resemble a or tension-type headache, and occur intermittently, starting gradually but fading over a few hours.
If you experience this alongside other “red flags”, like repeated vomiting, muscle weakness, a change in memory or personality, or seizures, speak to your GP.
Feeling tired
Any cancer that affects your hormone levels could cause , according to CRUK.
We all feel now and again – especially those of us with hay fever for half the year.
But could be a sign of diseases like breast or , the charity warns.
“People with advanced cancer are more likely to have fatigue than those with earlier stage cancer,” it adds.
“This could be because there are more cancer cells in the body, so the cancer itself is causing you to feel tired.
“You might also eat less, be less active and take medicines.”
Research suggests cancer-related fatigue affects almost 65 out of 100 people with cancer.
It can be a symptom of the cancer itself or a side effect of .
CRUK lists the following symptoms as potential cancer-related fatigue:
- A lack of energy – you may just want to stay in bed all day
- The need to rest even when you’ve done little or no activity
- Feeling that you just cannot be bothered to do much
- Sleeping problems, such as unable to sleep or disturbed sleep
- Finding it hard to get up in the morning
- Feeling anxious, sad or depressed
- Pain in your muscles – you may find it hard to climb stairs or walk short distances
- Feeling breathless after doing small tasks, for example, having a shower or making your bed
- Finding it hard to concentrate, even just watching TV or talking to a friend
- Finding it hard to think clearly or make decisions easily
- Loss of interest in sex
- Loss of interest in doing things you usually enjoy
- Negative feelings about yourself and others
