Got hay fever? Here's your ultimate 2023 survival guide  trends now

Got hay fever? Here's your ultimate 2023 survival guide  trends now
Got hay fever? Here's your ultimate 2023 survival guide  trends now

Got hay fever? Here's your ultimate 2023 survival guide  trends now

The season of runny noses and watery eyes is now upon us. 

So, if you are one of the many millions of people in the UK that suffer with hay fever, you may be looking for tips to get you through the next few months.

Well, MailOnline has you covered.

Despite the lack of open, grassy spaces in the city, the combination of pollution and pollen can make it worse for hay fever sufferers, experts say

Despite the lack of open, grassy spaces in the city, the combination of pollution and pollen can make it worse for hay fever sufferers, experts say

Avoid polluted streets 

It may sound strange but your hay fever could flare up worse on polluted streets, according to experts.  

Despite the lack of open, grassy fields in the city, the eye-watering combination of pollution and pollen — a fine powder released by plants to reproduce — can prove nightmarish for sufferers.

'It is worse in the cities because you have a combination of pollination as well as diesel exhaust particles that carry the pollen grains deeper into the airways, which can be more allergy-provoking,' says Dr Adrian Morris, a specialist based at the Surrey Allergy Clinic.

He added: 'The combination of traffic and pollen is bad.

'So you are probably worse off in the city than in the rural countryside where you would naturally think it would be worse.'

Everything you need to know about hay fever 

What exactly is hay fever? 

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen, a fine powder which comes from plants.

There is more pollen in the air in the spring and summer when plants are flowering.

The reaction usually happens when pollen comes into contact with someone's eyes, nose, mouth or throat.

Symptoms include coughing and sneezing; a runny or blocked nose; itchy, red or watery eyes; an itchy throat, nose, mouth or ears; headaches and tiredness.

Is it getting worse every year?

The severity of hay fever depends on the weather.

Wet and rainy conditions wash pollen away, reducing the number of people suffering from symptoms and their severity.

However, dry weather blows pollen into the air, where it can easily get into the eyes and nose.

The pollen season also seems to be getting longer, with a US study last year finding that it has been extended by 30 days between 1990 and 2018.

When are symptoms worst?

Hay fever symptoms tend to be worst around 11am and 6pm, and this is because pollen is at nose level.

Pollen is on the ground at the start of the day and rises through as grass warms up. 

During the course of the day, the pollen then goes very high up into the atmosphere.

As the temperature cools down during the course of the day, the pollen grains come down to earth again and at about 6pm they tend to be back at nose level.

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Stay indoors at these times

Pollen counts can also be higher and lower at different times of the day.

Peaks usually occur in the late morning when pollen particles rise with the warming air, high into the atmosphere.

Slowly, over the course of the day and by early evening, they tend to fall back to nose level.

So, it is best to avoid walking outside at these times of the day.  

A hay fever sufferer's worst nightmare occurs if a high pollen count is coupled with wet weather, followed by sun, especially in a polluted area, as it can create a 'pollen bomb'.

Dr Morris said: 'It is a combination of factors that make the pollen count incredibly high. 

'Maybe there has been recent rain and it is a really warm day and the grass pollinates in the morning and those pollen grains then rise up into the air.'

He added: 'Then when it comes down in the evening if that peak coincides with weather conditions that are conducive with the grasses pollenating then you get this massive surge in pollen, what they call a "pollen bomb".'

Close the window

Opening up windows to let in a breeze may be preferred on a spring day.

But keeping house and car windows shut can help reduce hay fever symptoms by reducing the amount of pollen that is inhaled, says Manchester-based pharmacist Thorrun Govind. 

Dr Morris said: 'If you are driving in your car, you should have the windows closed.

'Switch the air conditioning on because most modern cars have a pollen filter in the air conditioning.

'In the day time, have the windows closed at about 11am and at 6pm, so you stop the peak of the pollen coming through your window.' 

To make sure the amount of pollen inside your home is kept to a minimum, vacuuming regularly is also a good idea,

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