'Pollen bomb' warning as levels soar across the UK: Hay fever sufferers say their 'eyes are burning' as tree pollen spikes amid the balmy weather
After more than 50 days of consecutive rain, the UK is finally enjoying some sunshine, with temperatures set to hit highs of 19°C this week.But it seems every silver lining has a cloud, as the warm weather has brought an aggressive 'pollen bomb' with it. While grass pollen is low, tree pollen levels across the UK have soared amid the warm weather. Warm, wet weather can lead to a shift in the flowering season for certain plants which in turn can shift the timing of the pollen season,' a Met Office spokesperson told the Daily Mail. The news will come as no surprise to hay fever sufferers, who have flocked to social media to discuss their symptoms. 'First non–rainy day in London and I'm immediately punched in the face by hayfever,' one user explained on TikTok.Another asked: 'Is anyone else's eyes burning today? Is it just me, or has hay fever started already?'And one joked: 'I love spring and I'm so happy it's getting warmer, but my hay fever is flaring! I have itchy eyes an my nose is starting to twitch as well. There's no winning!' While grass pollen is low, tree pollen levels across the UK have soared amid the warm weather The news will come as no surprise to hay fever sufferers, who have flocked to social media to discuss their symptomsThe Met Office's pollen forecast hasn't started yet, but Kleenex's Pollen Count lets you check the levels in your area. According to the tool, tree pollen levels are 'high' in cities across the UK, ranging from Iverness to St Ives in Cornwall. Levels are particularly high in London, thanks to the large number of trees in the UK capital. 'Despite the Big Smoke nickname and its skyscrapers across The City and Canary Wharf, there are more than 9,200 hectares of parks and gardens across London making it the greenest major city in Europe,' Kleenex explained. 'While that's fantastic for the local eco system and our love of a picnic, it also means the London pollen count can hit some pretty big highs.'Many of us think of hay fever as a summer issue, but it can actually affect sufferers throughout the year. Pollen types vary by season, with tree pollen high in late winter, grass pollen in summer, and weed pollen in autumn. 'Seven tree pollen variants start causing havoc in February,' Kleenex explained. Tree pollen levels are 'high' in cities across the UK, ranging from Iverness to St Ives in CornwallWHAT IS HAY FEVER? Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen, a fine powder which comes from plants. There is more pollen in the air in the spring and summer when plants are flowering.The reaction usually happens when pollen comes into contact with someone's eyes, nose, mouth or throat.Hay fever symptoms include coughing and sneezing; a runny or blocked nose; itchy, red or watery eyes; itching throat, nose, mouth or ears; headaches and tiredness.People suffering from the allergy can put Vaseline around their nose to trap the pollen, wear wraparound sunglasses to keep pollen out of their eyes, wash clothes regularly and vacuum and dust indoors.Avoiding grass, cut flowers and smoke can help reduce symptoms, as can drying clothes indoors where pollen is less likely to stick to them.Source: NHS Choices 'As well as hazel, yew, alder and willow, we also see ash, elm and birch pollen join the party. 'It's in this month we see our first peak from the winter pollen season, with hazel and yew hitting their highs until mid–March. Poplar, oak and plane pollen say hello in March. 'Hay fever this month rises due to elm, alder, willow and poplar pollen – but it's also the end of hazel pollen.'While the Met Office's pollen forecast doesn't start until mid–March, a spokesperson explained to the Daily Mail that tree pollen tends to be worse in the south of the UK. 'The exact timing varies depending on where you live,' the spokesperson said. 'The season generally starts later, and is shorter, in the north of the UK, where pollen levels tend to be lower overall.'Urban areas often experience lower counts than rural locations, and inland areas tend to see higher counts than coastal regions. 'The weather can also impact pollen production, for example warm, wet weather can lead to a shift in the flowering season for certain plants which in turn can shift the timing of the pollen season.'In terms of symptoms, winter tree pollen allergies have many of the same effects as grass pollen allergies. If you suffer from hay fever, you may notice watery or itchy eyes, headaches, a reduced sense of smell, or disrupted sleep and tiredness. Several sufferers have taken to TikTok this week to discuss the pollen bomb.'Oh my god, my hayfever is killing me and I'm only in March. So imagine what it's going to be like in June, July, August,' one user vented. Another said: 'My nose has been itchy, I've been sneezing so much much, and my throat feels mad scratchy – it feels like I've got sandpaper in my throat.'And one explained: 'I can feel it coming. I'm waking up with a swollen face, my skin is getting s***, my eyes feel weird – so I know it's almost here.'Unfortunately, the forecast doesn't look much better through the week. According to Kleenex's Pollen Count, tree pollen could hit a high of 599 PPM in London on Saturday. Why DO some people suddenly develop hay fever out of the blue?For most hay fever sufferers, symptoms begin in childhood and persist for the rest of their lives. But some people appear to develop the condition suddenly and without any obvious reason, even well into their adult life.No-one knows exactly why hay fever can appear out of the blue but there are a number of theories.One is that they experienced very mild symptoms as a child that they did not notice.Another is the 'hygiene hypothesis', that our bodies are weaker as we age because we aren't exposed to as many infections as children.Research has indicated that youngsters who grow up on farms with regular contact with animals are less likely to develop allergies later in life.Another possibility is that sudden hay fever happens when the body is exposed to new surroundings - like moving from the city to the countryside, where there is usually more pollen.But the same might also be true in people moving from rural to urban areas, with some evidence that pollution can exacerbate hay fever.A weakening of the immune system could also be a trigger.A bad infection, illness or traumatic emotional event may leave the body vulnerable to normally harmless allergens.Between 15 and 20 per cent of people in the UK are thought to be affected, with the numbers being even higher among teenagers and symptoms typically peaking in people's 20s.
