How hay fever misery will drive 1 in 3 of us indoors this summer

ALMOST half of Scottish hay fever sufferers say the condition ruins their life during the holidays.

A third are forced to stay indoors during the summer months, feeling exhausted, with the doors and windows firmly shut.

A new survey of hay fever sufferers has highlighted the full misery of the condition.

Hay fever is caused by an allergic response to pollen and affects up to one in five people. Symptoms include sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes.

The survey found 32 per cent of sufferers in Scotland stay inside during summer, with 41 per cent unable to play outdoor sports and 46 per cent feeling their summer is ruined by the illness.

Around 62 per cent endure sleepless nights.

Double world champion hurdler Colin Jackson, who had to abandon a promising cricket career because of the condition, said: ‘Hay fever is awful. You don’t want to be outdoors – at the best time of year to be outdoors.

‘Sleep is a pain because you can’t open the windows at night and your eyes are so itchy you want to dig them out, wash them and put them back in.’

Jackson, who took gold for Britain in the 110m hurdles at the 1993 and 1994 World Championships, added: ‘I used to play cricket for my county as a teenager. When the cricket season began, I was excited – but my eyes weren’t.

‘Being in a field from May onwards when you suffer from hay fever is bound to be a problem.

‘I was opening the bowling and batting at number five – and there was not enough time to get my itchy, streaming eyes under control. So I decided to focus on athletics, which is generally a bit later in the season and doesn’t make me suffer as much.

‘I suffer hay fever caused by both grass and tree pollen – so it’s a double whammy. I’m never sure whether my eyes or nose suffer worse – your eyes are itchy, but your running nose gets so sore.

‘It’s like having a cold – but a continuous cold that lasts for five months.’

Hay fever is typically worse between late March and September, especially when it is warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is at its highest.

The survey of 1,000 people in the UK, including 63 in Scotland, was carried out by Atomik Research for ASDA Pharmacy.

ASDA pharmacist Maq Din said: ‘There is no cure for hay fever and you can’t prevent it – but you can do things to ease your symptoms when the pollen count is high.

‘Staying cooped up inside is not a realistic way of living your life and avoiding hay fever symptoms, but there are a few steps you can take to keep yourself protected if you are venturing outdoors.

‘These can include eye drops and nasal sprays, something as simple as wearing wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes, and showering or changing your clothes after you have been outside, to wash off the pollen.’

According to Allergy UK, between 10 and 30 per cent of British adults suffer from hay fever symptoms, as well as 40 per cent of children.

‘Like having a cold for five months’