Which hayfever remedy is best?
Take our quick 4 question test to find out which hayfever remedy is best for you
Take the test now!While most people associate hayfever season with the hotter summer months, many people can actually start experiencing symptoms around about now or even earlier! In fact, many areas of the country are already experiencing moderate and high pollen counts. Today I’m talking about why the pollen season can start early, what areas are likely to be affected, and how to prepare.
Last week saw the beginning of increasing pollen counts in some parts of the country, but this week things have really stepped up, with many areas experiencing moderate or high pollen counts.
While hayfever is commonly associated with grass pollen, which affects 95% of hayfever sufferers and generally occurs from June onwards, symptoms can also be triggered by tree pollen, which occurs much earlier in the year. A few trees can begin pollinating as early as February, but the biggest offender, Birch, which affects around 25% of hayfever sufferers, begins pollinating from March onwards – and it is Birch pollen that we are seeing in high levels in parts of the country this week.
Generally speaking, the southern end of the country is likely to be affected first as it is warmer weather that triggers this pollination. This week we can see that Bristol, Norwich and nearby cities such as Swindon, Bath, Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds have high pollen counts, whilst the majority of Wales, the Midlands and Southern England, including London, are experiencing moderate pollen counts.
As the weather warms up we should see increasing levels of Birch pollen creeping north through England and finally into parts of Scotland – Birch is actually the most common native species in Scotland. Plane and Oak trees are also common allergens and their pollen season tends to peak around April, so we may see higher pollen counts of these trees soon.
Then, of course, the main hayfever season starts with grass pollen around about May, peaking in June and July.
The severity of your reaction to tree pollen really dictates the types of precautions you should take – some people may need to avoid going outside altogether, whereas some people will be okay simply avoiding the peak times. Have a read through our tips and try to judge which ones apply to you.
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Take our quick 4 question test to find out which hayfever remedy is best for you
Take the test now!Stay up to date with the latest pollen information by finding your local pollen forecast from over 30,000 locations across the UK.
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