Hay fever misery for millions
MILLIONS of hay fever sufferers face weeks of misery as the exceptionally cold spring leads to an explosion of tree pollen, experts warned last night.
Balmy conditions following weeks of bitter cold are about to spark a huge surge in airborne pollen spores.
Trees usually start flowering from the start of March, bringing a gradual build-up to the hay fever season. However, weeks of belowaverage temperatures have put pollen production on hold.
As temperatures rise around the UK, allergen-heavy trees such as birch, alder and hazel are now poised to burst into flower.
Attacks
The pollen alert came as Asthma UK warned that millions of people with the condition are at a higher risk of potentially life-threatening attacks, leading to a spike in the number of hospital admissions.
Hay fever and asthma are closely linked, with around 80 per cent of people with asthma finding their symptoms triggered by pollen.
Experts last night blamed a “perfect storm” of conditions for creating a pollen “time bomb”.
Some 18 million Britons are afflicted by hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, caused by reactions to pollen from trees, grass and other plants.
The debilitating condition can cause sleep problems, itchy eyes and sneezing and is estimated to cost the UK economy billions of pounds in lost productivity. Even people previously unaffected by the condition are at risk this year due to the high pollen counts expected.
Airborne allergens expert Max Wiseberg said: “Peaks of tree pollen could be higher than normal, which may cause worse symptoms and also affect people who have not been allergic before.
“The recent cold wintry weather caused by the Beast from the East has provided the optimum conditions for this to happen.”
Mr Wiseberg added: “The recent cold weather means that trees are waiting for the warmer weather to release pollen.
“When the tree pollen season is delayed, more trees are likely to release their pollen at the same time, creating a ‘time bomb’ effect.” While many people will welcome next week’s warmer weather, those with asthma are at a higher risk of suffering a life-threatening attack.
Sonia Munde, head of helpline and nurse manager at Asthma UK, said: “Pollen is a top trigger for asthma attacks at this time of year, affecting an estimated 3.3 million people in the UK.
“People with asthma who also have a pollen allergy not only experience classic hay fever symptoms such as itchy eyes and a running nose but are also at an increased risk of a life-threatening asthma attack. Asthma UK’s research has revealed that people with asthma say hay fever can disrupt their work, and has even caused teenagers taking exams to drop a grade.”
She said those who have asthma and a pollen allergy should take hay fever medicines such as antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays, and make sure they use their inhaler as prescribed.
Allergy expert David Carson, founder of pollen-monitoring app HayFeverRelief, warned that this year’s hay fever season could be much worse than last summer’s.
“Because of the recent very cold weather there has been no real pollen count yet,” he said.
“However, when the weather picks up grass and trees will start releasing pollen at the same time and it will affect more people.
“For people who suffer from both grass and tree pollen allergies their symptoms are likely to be much worse. I would imagine that, although starting later, the pollen season this year will be much worse than last year.”
Temperatures are expected to rise over the coming week. A Met Office spokewoman said: “Check the latest forecasts on our website as weather is a big influence on pollen levels.”
Hay fever affects between 10 per cent and 30 per cent of all adults and as many as 40 per cent of children.
It accounts for 16.7 million visits to the doctor each year.