HAY WE GO
UK hay fever warning: Met Office map reveals ‘pollen bomb’ hotspots TODAY as levels soar – is your area at risk?
Are 'very high' levels of pollen forecasted for your area?
BRITS with hay fever could face more challenges after the Met Office revealed "pollen bomb" hotspots as levels continue to soar.
High levels of pollen have been detected across the UK this summer.
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In a post on X, The Met Office shared which parts of the country currently have the highest pollen levels.
The South West, South East - including London - Wales, East of England and East and West Midlands all showed "very high" levels of pollen.
The North West of England, Yorkshire and Northern Ireland will also be affected.
People with hay fever in Newcastle won't struggle as much as those in the south and those residing in the highlands will only face medium pollen levels.
Million Britons are plagued by symptoms of hay fever every summer from itchy eyes, a constant runny nose, headaches to irritating sneezes.
For people with asthma, high pollen levels can be fatal.
“More than three million people with asthma are affected by pollen and when levels are at their highest it can be deadly for those with a lung condition," said Erika Radford from Asthma + Lung UK.
"When pollen particles are breathed in, they can cause inflammation in the airways and get into the lungs, making it harder for those with lung conditions to breathe which can be terrifying," she explained.
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However, Erica said there are things people with asthma can do to protect themselves.
“Checking pollen and air pollution forecasts in your local area every day is a good idea, so you can avoid going outdoors as much as possible on high pollen days," she said.
What is hay fever?
“You should always have your reliever inhaler nearby, even when at home, in case pollen does trigger symptoms like breathlessness or chest tightness.
"Reliever inhalers quickly relax the muscles in the airways to help you breathe more easily when symptoms arise.
“Another thing you can do is to take antihistamine medicines to relieve your hay fever symptoms.
"In addition, your GP can prescribe a steroid nasal spray to help reduce the allergic reaction."
It comes after doctors revealed a man tore a hole in his throat after holding in a sneeze.
And a student nurse claimed doctors repeatedly dismissed her waxy ear and neck lumps as 'fresher's flu' or 'hay fever'.
Best hay fever treatments to buy online
1. Allergy Eye Mist
If you hate the thought of drops, consider an eye mist which works in the same way – just spray it once or twice onto closed eyelids to to three times a day.
Try Optrex ActiMist Double Action Spray Itchy Watery Eyes, £13.75. Boots Allergy Eye Mist, 10ml, £9.99, is suitable for all types of contact lenses too.
2. Cetirizine Allergy & Hay Fever Tablets
Products containing Cetirizine work to combat allergies without making you feel tired.
Superdrug's pack of 30 tablets comes in at £5.45.
3. Hay Fever Relief Nasal Spray
For over-the-counter relief you could try Pirinase Allergy Relief Nasal Spray for Adults x 60 Sprays from Superdrug, £8.39.
Or for something on prescription, try Beclometasone Nasal Spray from ChemistClick, £5.49.
4. Vaseline
Dabbing a little bit of petroleum jelly around the edges of your nose works as a barrier to trap pollen before you breathe it in.
Try branded balms such as Haymax pure organic drug-free pollen barrier balm 5ml, £8.49. Or petroleum jelly such as Vaseline does just the same job for only a fraction of the price.
5. The Eye Doctor Allergy Hay Fever Compress
The Eye Doctor Allergy Hay Fever Compress has thermal dynamic fabric, which uses regulated evaporation to cool more rapidly.
It helps to reduce puffiness, swelling, itching, inflammation and even headaches, and comes with an adjustable comfy strap.
You can buy it at Superdrug for £8.99.
6. Throat spray
Ultra Chloraseptic Anaesthetic Throat Spray contains the active ingredient benzocaine which belongs to the group of medicines called local anaesthetics.
You can buy Ultra Chloraseptic Anaesthetic Throat Spray for £6 from Amazon.