Why is my hay fever so bad in 2023 and what can trigger it?
Tissues at the ready – hay fever season is upon us.
As the weather (hopefully) begins to improve, a bit of sunshine will be welcomed by many. However, spending more time outside can lead to hay fever sufferers having a miserable time of it.
Around 11% of adults in the UK suffer from hay fever (or seasonal allergic rhinitis, to give it its proper name), which usually occurs when pollen levels are high.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for hay fever, so you can only manage the symptoms.
However, many sufferers are already noticing the 2023 season as being particularly bad.
So, why has hay fever been so bad, and what can set it off?
Here is what you need to know about hay fever.
When is hay fever season in the UK?
In the UK, pollen season usually begins around March and lasts until September, meaning this has traditionally been when hay fever sufferers see their worst symptoms.
Why is my hay fever so bad in 2023?
This year, the hay fever season has started early in the UK, and the MET office has also warned that a ‘pollen bomb’ is set to bring some of the highest pollen levels to the UK over the coming days.
They’ve also warned that climate change may bring additional problems for hay fever sufferers.
The Met Office has suggested that the season may now be more extended, with unpredictable weather proving difficult for many.
They state: ‘Climate change will very likely cause increasingly erratic and unpredictable seasons and weather patterns.
‘The biggest defence for hay fever sufferers is to be prepared, something which these changes caused by climate change will make more difficult.’
The answer to why your hay fever has been particularly bad this year could also lie with where you live, particularly if you’ve moved into a big city.
While you might imagine that grassy rural locations would be awful for hay fever, that isn’t always true.
Speaking to MailOnline, Dr Adrian Morris, a specialist based at the Surrey Allergy Clinic, warned that hay fever ‘is worse in the cities because you have a combination of pollination as well as diesel exhaust particles that carry the pollen grains deeper into the airways, which can be more allergy-provoking.’
What can trigger hay fever?
The NHS warns of several big triggers that can lead to worsening hay fever. They offer the following advice:
Potential hay fever triggers
- Do not cut grass or walk on grass
- Do not spend too much time outside
- Do not keep fresh flowers in the house
- Do not smoke or be around smoke – it makes your symptoms worse
- Do not dry clothes outside – they can catch pollen
- Do not let pets into the house if possible – they can carry pollen indoors
They also list several things you can do to help prevent symptoms, including:
Way to prevent hay fever
- Putting Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen
- Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes
- Shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off
- Stay indoors whenever possible
- Keep windows and doors shut as much as possible
- Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth
- Buy a pollen filter for the air vents in your car and a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter
- Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities
MORE : How to sleep better in hay fever season
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