At the start of the Hay Fever “season,” we look at what is Hay fever, its common causes and its management.
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen. Pollen is a fine powdery substance released into the atmosphere by plants. This causes an allergic reaction known as rhinitis. “Rhinitis is when a reaction occurs that causes nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and itching.” (“Rhinitis | Johns Hopkins Medicine”) Most types of rhinitis are caused by inflammation and are associated with symptoms in the eyes, ears, or throat.
| Triggers for Hay Fever | Usual Pollen Release | Peak Pollen Release |
| Yew (tree) | January–April | March |
| Hazel (tree) | January–April | February–March |
| Elm (tree) | February–April | March |
| Poplar (tree) | March–May | March |
| Ash (tree) | March–May | April |
| Birch (tree) | March–June | April–May |
| Oak (tree) | March–June | May |
| Pine (tree) | April–July | May |
| Dock (herb/flower) | May–August | June |
| Nettles (weeds) | May–September | June |
| Mug Worts (weed) | June–September | July–August |
| Sunflowers (flowers) | June–October | July–August |
| Dahlias (flowers) | July–October | August–September |
If you have asthma and hay fever triggers your symptoms, you could also notice:
- shortness of breath
- a tight chest
- wheezing and coughing.
Hay fever can cause inflamed airways to swell up even more. It can also make you more likely to react to other triggers like dust or pollution, and if hay fever combines with viruses like colds or flu, the extra inflammation can worsen your symptoms.
You can be allergic to more than one kind of pollen across the year. Different pollens are released at different times, but our changeable weather makes it hard to predict exactly when. If you have hay fever symptoms all year round, you might have non-allergic rhinitis or an allergy to something else.
If you regularly get hay fever and take antihistamines, start taking them up to four weeks before you normally get symptoms. Starting them early means that when pollen starts being released, the medication has already built up in your bloodstream so you may be less likely to react.
If you usually use a steroid nasal spray, it can take up to two weeks to start working, so again, start using it before your pollen trigger is released.
Pollen forecast
The pollen count monitoring network combines Met Office weather data with expertise from organisations such as the National Pollen and Aerobiological Unit to produce pollen forecasts for 5 days ahead across the whole of the UK.
What is a high pollen count?
People with hay fever typically experience symptoms when the pollen count is high.
The pollen count is the number of pollen grains present in one cubic metre of air. To calculate the pollen count, air samples are collected over 24 hours. This information is then considered alongside the weather conditions to forecast the pollen levels for upcoming days.
Some ways that you can stay away from triggers include:
Reducing your exposure to pollen can help to prevent or alleviate your symptoms. Wearing sunglasses and a pollen mask, avoiding outdoor activities such as gardening and walking the dog, and not drying your laundry outside are some simple ways you can avoid exposure to pollen.
Keeping the air in your house clean can help to prevent pollen particles from entering your home. When the pollen count is high, avoid leaving windows and doors open. A high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter can be used in your house or car to help filter any pollen out of the air.
Pollen counts are significantly higher in cities and the countryside. The sea breeze you can feel close to the coast helps blow pollen inland, meaning the pollen count is lower the closer you are to the coast. On a hot summer day, staying indoors can often be very difficult to avoid pollen. Visiting the seaside can help you avoid triggers and still enjoy being outdoors without experiencing symptoms and can be a great way to spend time outdoors, even if the pollen count is high.
