A VERY high pollen bomb is due to drop in the UK weekend, with hay fever sufferers warned to have allergy medicine at the ready.
Brits are also set to bask in sweltering temperatures this weekend, but the sunnier weather is behind the sudden explosion in pollen levels.
The Midlands, south of England, Wales and Northern Ireland are expected to see the worst of the pollen, while the north east of England and Scotland will escape with low pollen levels.
Meanwhile a yellow heat health alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) suggests temperatures could nudge close to 30C in some areas by Saturday.
The alert is in place from 9am this Friday until 9am on Monday.
The regions affected are London, East Midlands, West Midlands, east of England, South East and the South West.
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The sudden onset of very warm weather could create uncomfortable and potentially dangerous conditions for those who suffer from pollen allergies.
"For sufferers, hay fever has been a feature of the last few days and will continue to be a feature for sufferers over the next few days and weeks," a Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge said.
"(Sufferers will) only get a respite when the grass has shed all the available pollen or if we get significant rainfall, which will effectively wash the pollen out of the atmosphere," he added.
The 7 ways to ease hay fever
- Shower and change clothes after being outdoors: Pollen gets everywhere, sticking to clothes and affecting you long after you’ve retreated inside.
- Apply petroleum gel just under the nose: Dabbing a little petroleum gel, such as Vaseline, around the nostrils before you head out can act as a barrier to prevent pollen particles from entering your nose.
- Wear wraparound sunglasses: This is a suitably stylish way of keeping pesky pollen powder out of your eyes.
- Keep it clean: Regularly wash your hands when out and about to remove pollen and avoid rubbing it further into your eyes or nose.
- Dry your laundry inside: If you suffer from hay fever, it’s better to dry your laundry inside so that it won’t catch any pollen outside.
- Keep pets clean: Animal fur can easily collect pollen when outdoors.
- Create an on-the-go first aid kit: There are plenty of products you can pick up at the chemist to keep your symptoms in check, each with different abilities
For further tips on preventing hay fever, see the NHS website.
Doctor Milli Raizada, GP and senior clinical lecturer at Lancaster University, said: "People think it is such a minor condition but it can have an impact on people's work performance and sleep.
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"I think there are lots of theories about why (hay fever) has been so bad.
"The prolonged cold weather and then the sudden explosion of warm weather has led to very high counts of pollen," she explained.
To cope with hay fever, Dr Raizada recommends people take antihistamine tablets or use nasal or steroid sprays to reduce inflammation.
She said antihistamines can be used as a preventative measure a couple of weeks before high pollen levels are expected.
People can also stay inside, keep windows closed and wear sunglasses to reduce the level of pollen they are exposed to, she said.
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen, typically when it comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes and throat.
Pollen is a fine powder from plants which usually travels in the air when it's warm and windy: usually between late March and September.
You can check the pollen forecast for your area here.
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