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
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.'
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 windowOpening 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,