Pollen count today | Stay 1 step ahead of your hay fever (2024)

FAQs

What is making my allergies so bad right now? ›

Environmental factors play an important role in allergy symptoms. Increased pollution, air quality changes and outdoor allergens such as pollen and mold spores can create a perfect storm for heightened allergic responses. Seasonal variations. Allergy seasons ebb and flow throughout the year.

Hay fever triggers include: Tree pollen, which is common in early spring. Grass pollen, which is common in late spring and summer. Ragweed pollen, which is common in fall.

Pollen release is favourable on warm, dry, windy days whereas rain washes the air clean of pollen. Pollination usually occurs in the morning. Pollen concentrations increase to the peak at 12 noon and decrease through the afternoon and evening.

Other possible triggers for developing an allergy like hay fever as an adult include lifestyle changes such as moving home – for example to a large city with more pollution – or changing your diet, with some meat and dairy products, as well as alcohol, containing histamines or triggering a histamine release in the body ...

Nasal corticosteroids

These nasal sprays help prevent and treat the nasal stuffiness and the itchy, runny nose caused by hay fever. For many people, nasal sprays are the most effective hay fever medicines, and they're often the first type of medicine recommended.

To make matters worse, unseasonably mild winters, warm springs and dry summers in recent years have led to plants growing more vigorously and a longer, stronger growing season. So, hay fever sufferers can experience symptoms from early spring until late autumn.

Grazax reduces allergic symptoms by giving you a regular fixed amount of grass pollen extract, allowing your immune system to build up tolerance to grass pollen and reduce symptoms on exposure to grass pollen during future hay fever seasons.

The first thing that hayfever sufferers should beware of is dairy produce as this can encourage the production of mucous making symptoms like a blocked nose and a runny nose worse. So, whilst hayfever season is in full swing, it may be best to avoid things like milk, yogurt and even cheese where possible.

After years of experience in allergy relief, we confidently recommend these three medications as the top options for managing hay fever symptoms. Cetirizine, Loratadine, and Telfast have proven highly effective at minimising the sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and overall discomfort that hay fever brings.

Most people find relief from hay fever within a few days with medication, but they must take it continuously until the allergen is out of the air. Some people continue to have symptoms of hay fever for several weeks or months, especially if they aren't taking or can't take medication to help relieve symptoms.

Is hay fever worse in bed? ›

Allergies may worsen at night due to natural circadian rhythms, increased nocturnal pollen counts, and environmental allergens. Lying down can also increase congestion. People with respiratory allergies are familiar with persistent sneezing, itchy eyes, and nasal congestion which often accompany the condition.

The months that register a higher pollen count are April, May and September. With the onset of winter, the pollen density drops away although allergy sufferers can still be affected by indoor allergens, such as dust, pet dander or mould spores.

“It's important to check your vitamin D levels if you're suffering badly with hay fever. We have just come out of winter with minimal sun exposure, which means that individuals who have not been supplementing with vitamin D could very well have low levels.

Hay fever is caused by the nose and/or eyes coming into contact with environmental allergens, such as pollens (grasses, weeds or trees), dust mite, moulds and animal dander. Most people associate hay fever with spring, when airborne grass pollens are at their peak.

Many people find their hay fever symptoms dwindle as they age, although no one knows why. But allergies can and do get worse over a lifetime, and there are reports of people who are middle aged and older suddenly developing hay fever having never been sensitive to pollen before.

It is certainly possible to develop allergies in adulthood. Adult-onset allergies can occur seemingly out of nowhere due to exposure to new allergens in the environment, family history and changes in the immune system.

One theory about the rise of allergies is that over the last 200 years, our diets have gotten dramatically different in terms of what we eat, the types of food we eat, so more processed foods, less fresh fruit and vegetables, different foods. ...

Weed Pollen Peak 2024

Experts predict a hyperactive weed pollen season in over two dozen states due to widespread warmth in the second half of summer. And this time, the concerns extend beyond the East Coast, reaching all the way to the Pacific Northwest, northern Rockies, and northern Plains.

Spring and fall are generally the worst months for allergies, as tree, grass, and weed pollens are prevalent. Winter and late summer or early fall can offer some relief, with reduced levels of certain allergens. Allergens vary by state and are influenced by climate, regional flora, and environmental conditions.