THE Met Office has revealed four “pollen bomb” hotspots in the UK where red alerts have been issued.
Hay fever sufferers can check a map of Britain's hay fever hot spots below.
A red alert has been issued in the South West and South East of England until at least Thursday.
As the UK moves into spring, Wales, South East England, and both the East andare set to encounter a high risk of birch pollen, according to forecasts.
Although the grass pollen season is still some weeks off, hay fever sufferers are already contending with the tree pollen season, which experts say can start as early as January.
Yolanda Clewlow, the ‘s pollen forecast manager, said: “The pollen season has already started and people with a sensitivity to tree pollen may have noticed the early tree species in the air.
“For those who are allergic to birch pollen, the season for this species is likely to be high, largely due to the conditions last spring and summer when pollen was forming on some trees.
“We're constantly monitoring what's in the atmosphere and what might be coming in terms of pollen in the air.”
From Tuesday, pollen levels are expected to drop across the South but will sadly remain relatively high further north in areas such as the West Midlands.
Areas in East Anglia are also expected to see pollen levels peak today and tomorrow before dropping at the end of the week.
Common and severe hay fever symptoms
Hay fever is a super common affecting around one in four adults in the UK.
Holly Shaw, a nurse advisor for Allergy UK, told Flying Eze that the number of people affected by hay fever has trebled in the last 30 years.
“The condition is becoming more common, partly due to better diagnosis, but also to due to climate change, with warmer temperatures causing pollen seasons to start earlier and last longer,” she said.
You can be stuck by symptoms at any age. You may have started to experience them as a toddler, but they're common in school age children and young adults.
You might have noticed your symptoms getting worse as the warms up.
That's because “pollen counts are higher on dry warm days with low humidity and a gentle breeze to help disperse the fine pollen granules into the air and keep the pollen grains circulating”, Holly explained.
Not everyone will experience the allergy in the same way.
Pollen basically triggers a response in your immune system, kickstarting the release of histamine and causing symptoms which can affect the lining of the nose, throat, eyes and ears.
“Some people may experience sneezing bouts, whilst others may have more severe symptoms which affect daily activates,” Holly said.
This can include and “a constant runny itchy nose, itchy watery eyes, itchy throat, ears or palate, a stuffy nose which affects their breathing and for some their may be triggered”.
‘Deadly' complications
“Hay fever can have a huge impact on quality of life if it is not treated or well managed,” the nurse said.
“Having severe hay fever can affect someone’s ability to participate in outdoor activities, affect their mental and even have a detrimental impact on careers, especially for someone who works outdoors.”
Hay fever can take a toll on your physical wellbeing too, making you more irritable and affecting your ability to or work.
Holly warned that if the allergy is poorly treated, it can lead to complications such as sinus infections or even the development of asthma.
“Wheezing or difficulty breathing can occur if you also have allergic asthma,” she added.
In fact, 90 per cent of people with asthma have allergic rhinitis.
There's also an increased risk of worsening asthma symptoms and hospitalisation with poorly treated hay fever.
Erika Radford, Head of Health Advice at Asthma + Lung UK, told Flying Eze: “More than three million people with asthma are affected by pollen and when levels are at their highest it can be deadly for those with a lung condition.
“Hay fever can trigger asthma symptoms and increase the risk of a potentially life-threatening asthma attack.”
Holly stressed: “If symptoms do not respond to usual asthma treatments, symptoms are getting worse, or if someone develops a wheeze or breathing difficulties with hay fever for the first time, it is important to quickly seek medical advice.”
How can I protect myself?
If you're experiencing hay fever symptoms, you might find yourself just grinning and bearing it.
But Holly said it’s important to treat the symptoms.
“This may sound simple, but many people just put up with hay fever symptoms needlessly,” she said.
“Most people with hay fever will have symptoms that can be managed by taking a daily non-sedating antihistamine.
“These are available in tablet and syrup form, and you can speak to a pharmacist who can advise you on the best choice for your individual needs.
“We recommend taking your non drowsy antihistamine medication daily to reduce symptoms and if you have a corticosteroid nasal spray start this around two weeks before the onset of symptoms to get the most effective benefit from your treatment.
“In addition, saline nasal sprays and barrier balms can be used concurrently.”
