A ‘pollen bomb’ is set to wreak havoc across Britain this week, triggering debilitating symptoms for the nation’s 13 million hay fever sufferers.
The UK is on course to see record-breaking June temperatures of 38C today, and those with pollen allergies – officially known as hay fever – are being warned to brace themselves.
An incurable allergic condition, hay fever can cause splitting headaches, extreme fatigue, sneezing, coughing, blocked or runny noses, itchy eyes and sore throats.
And symptoms could be set to become even more severe, as the combination of sizzling ‘heat dome’ temperatures and ‘very high’ pollen levels will see huge quantities of allergy-causing pollen particles released into the air.
Experts say the nature of this summer’s ‘stop-start’ weather has created the perfect conditions for a so-called ‘pollen bomb’.
Normally, pollen from trees and grass are released at different times, but fluctuating conditions are believed to have caused both to overlap and release at the same time. This triggers high concentrations of pollen in the air, increasing the chance of allergic reactions when the particles come into contact with the eyes, nose, throat and mouth.
Thankfully for millions, experts say there are several ways to protect yourself against the dreaded ‘pollen bomb’ beyond reaching for an antihistamine – the most common form of protection, which is taken in a tablet form.
Read on for their top tips.
A ‘pollen bomb’ is wreaking havoc on Britain this week, triggering debilitating symptoms for the nation’s 13million hay fever sufferers
Take antihistamines
Professor Adam Fox, a paediatric allergist, told The Telegraph: ‘We know that the combination of regular antihistamine use alongside nasal steroid sprays is safe and will significantly improve the symptoms of 85 per cent of patients, provided they take them regularly.
‘Taking precautions and using products that deliver fast and effective relief is key.’
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Fox, who is one of the UK’s leading allergy specialists, recommends fexofenadine as his antihistamine of choice for hay fever sufferers.
Antihistamines work by blocking histamine, which is released by the body’s immune system releases when it reacts to pollen.
Fox says patients report experiencing fewer drowsy side effects when taking fexofenadine – which is available over the counter – compared with other tablets.
Some antihistamines, such as Piriton, which contains chlorphenamine, are well known for causing sleepiness. Other non-drowsy alternatives include Claritin, which contains loratadine, and cetirizine hydrochloride are also popular.
Nasal sprays can help
However, experts say the tablets are not the only way to tackle severe symptoms.
Dr Adrian Morris, a consultant allergist at the Surrey Allergy Clinic, says nasal corticosteroids – medications that are typically sprayed up the nostril to reduce inflammation – can also help.
Though they generally take around a week to work, Morris says prescribed steroids such as prednisolone may provide faster relief in more severe instances.
He also recommends decongestants, which work by reducing the swelling of the blood vessels in the nose, in turn opening the airways and relieve blockages.
Decongestants can also be dangerously addictive, though, so Morris warns that they should not be used for longer than a day or two.
Another treatment option is the use of leukotriene modifiers, drugs commonly used to treat asthma attacks.
The drugs work by blocking chemicals involved in allergic reactions and are sometimes used in particularly severe cases of hay fever.
Fox says leukotriene modifiers are typically reserved for patients whose symptoms persist despite other treatments, including immunotherapy – a process that gradually trains the immune system to tolerate pollen, sometimes over a course of years.
Sizzling temperatures combined with very high levels of pollen is triggering a ‘pollen bomb’
He believes that, while an option, the use of leukotriene modifiers ‘doesn’t fit for most people’ and that the natural progression would be to go from antihistamines, to nasal sprays, and then immunotherapy.
Don’t shrug off nasal rinses
Even after trying all of the conventional methods, some sufferers still can’t shake their hay fever – and look to alternative remedies.
One such option is a nasal rinse, which involves flushing out the nasal passages with a salt-water solution to wash away pollen.
Devotees use warm, previously boiled and cooled water mixed with a teaspoon of salt and bicarbonate of soda. The water then runs through the nose and comes out of the mouth, getting rid of the pollen. Ready-made kits to do so are widely available from pharmacies.
Fox believes this method is ‘bound to be helpful’ as it removes the pollen, and says he recommends it to people just before they use a steroid nasal spray.
Other, more rare methods, include light therapy – where infrared lights are beamed into the nose in a bid to reduce inflammation caused by allergies. Fox remains skeptical but dubs it as ‘one to watch’.
Ectoin sprays, which, like the official NHS guidance to coat the nostrils in Vaseline, essentially act as a barrier to pollen from entering the nostrils and are also seen as promising by experts.
Look at your diet… and other quirky advice
Another method, which has less scientific evidence, is quercetin – an antioxidant found in foods such as red apples and red onions, as well as purple grapes, kale and broccoli.
Limited studies show it may have antihistamine effects by blocking the release of histamine, but it should not be seen as an official treatment.
Experts advise more quirky methods, too, such as buying an air purifier for homes – which they say can rid the air of any pollen that enters the property.
Pet owners are also advised to wipe down their animals after walks, as pollen can cling to fur and be carried into the home.
NHS England says visits to its website for hay fever advice have doubled due to the ‘heat dome’ hitting the UK, with concerned allergy-ridden Britons seeking advice on how to stay safe.
Official NHS guidance recommends applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, around the nostrils to help trap pollen particles before they enter through the nose.
Wearing wraparound sunglasses, a face mask or a wide hat can also help reduce exposure.
Going for a shower is also encouraged to wash pollen off, as is keeping windows and doors closed, vacuuming regularly and wiping down dusty surfaces.
The NHS says to avoid activities that increase contact with pollen, such as cutting or walking through grass or spending extended periods outdoors. Keeping fresh flowers indoors may also worsen symptoms.
Other triggers include cigarette smoke and drying clothes outside, which can allow pollen to collect on fabrics.
Pharmacists can provide advice on the most appropriate treatments, including antihistamines, nasal sprays and eye drops.
