Hay Fever Relief in the UK:
Symptoms & Indoor Air Relief
May usually means clear skies and a much-needed bit of warmth. But for those of us who suffer from hay fever (allergic rhinitis), spring and summer means a runny nose, itchy eyes and lots of sneezing. Approximately two in every ten people suffer from hay fever.
While there is no cure for hay fever, there are some helpful things you can do to combat the worst of it.
Knowledge is the best defence. Hay fever (also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis) is an allergy to pollen. In spring and summer, plants produce millions of tiny grains that form a powder. Plants release this powder into the environment in a process called pollination. Some pollen grains catch the wind to germinate on viable ground. Insects such as bees also gather pollen to use as a food source.
When you inhale air that contains pollen, your immune system misidentifies the grains as threats and releases histamine. Histamine tells your airways and eyes to expel the intruders.
The result is an overreaction: the remedy feels worse than the negligible danger the pollen poses. Histamine stimulates extra mucus in your nose, so you sneeze and become congested or runny-nosed. If pollen reaches your eyes, they water and itch.
The main triggers for hay fever are:
tree pollen
grass pollen
weed pollen
There are many unique species within these categories, and each person has varying levels of sensitivity to each. Hay fever usually presents in childhood, and symptoms often improve with age.
If you are experiencing symptoms throughout the year, you may be suffering from perennial allergic rhinitis, which is typically caused by indoor allergens such as mould spores or dust mites.
Late March to mid-May is peak tree pollen season. Grass pollen is predominant from mid-May to July. Weed pollen peaks from late June to September. Track local spikes with the Met Office pollen forecast.
Keep doors and windows shut on high-count days, run the Dryzone Dehumidifier & Air Purifier, change clothes immediately after coming indoors and dry laundry inside.
Yes! while solo dehumidifiers don’t filter pollen, combination HEPA dehumidifier & air purifiers filter airborne grains while keeping relative humidity in the 45-55 % “comfort zone” that discourages mould growth, another common allergen.
Pollen settles as evening air cools, coinciding with the time most of go to bed. Close windows before evening and run an air dehumidifier/purifier on sleep mode to curb the overnight spike.
On high-pollen days, yes. Keep windows shut during the two daily pollen surges: roughly 7 to 10 am and 5 to 8 pm. Ventilate in the low-count lull around midday or straight after heavy rain, using trickle vents or mechanical extract fans fitted with pollen filters.
Hay fever is common in the UK between March and September.
Each person’s level of pollen sensitivity is unique: you may experience allergic reactions throughout spring and summer equally, or at varying levels as the concentrations of the type of pollen you are sensitive to fluctuate.
Here's a handy basic pollen calendar: Tree pollen is most common between late March and mid-May. Grass pollen season is usually between mid-May and July, and most people who suffer from hay fever are allergic to this type. Weed pollen season runs from late June to September. These general times may differ year-to-year, depending on the weather.
The MET Office pollen forecast is a useful tool to monitor if you suffer from hay fever, which also gives you information on the types of pollen that are currently circulating in your area and in what concentration.
Pollen counts vary across the United Kingdom. Generally speaking, the north enjoys shorter seasons than the south, due to lower pollen levels in those areas. Rural and inland areas also tend to have higher pollen concentrations than built-up towns/cities and coastal areas.
While these factors all contribute to pollen intensities, it is impossible to fully escape pollen when the season is in full swing!
The symptoms of hay fever are similar to the common cold and include:
General fatigue (tiredness)
Sneezing, nasal itchiness or congestion
Coughing
Itchy and sore throat/nose
Red and weeping eyes
Temporary loss of smell
Head pain and headaches
Symptoms worsen outdoors and in homes with open windows.
Bad news: there is no cure for hay fever. However, there are many strategies you can use to lessen the symptoms. Apart from medicinal options, there are a few different things you can do to minimise the symptoms of hay fever.
The best strategy to ease the symptoms of hay fever in the home is to minimize the pollen count in your home environment through air purification. By mechanically removing pollen from the air, hay fever sufferers can live comfortably indoors during hay fever season.
Air Purifiers (also sometimes called air cleaners) draw in the air around them and filter them to collect allergens like pollen, pet dander, mould spores and dust mites. They can help clean the air, allowing for improved respiratory health. These benefits aren’t just for allergy sufferers, they improve everyone’s health.
Pollen grains are microscopic, ranging from 15 to 100 microns. Using an air purifier regularly in your home helps to remove pollen that drifts in through open doors and windows and that you carry into the house on your clothes and shoes.
Be wary when choosing the right air purifier for your home, as air filtering capabilities differ wildly from model to model.
The most important part of the air purifier is the filter. This is the part of the air purifier that removes pollutants from the air. High Efficiency Particulate Air Filters are recognised worldwide as a standard of efficiency.
Consider a combination dehumidifier and air purifier that includes a HEPA filter to ensure your air purifiers works as effectively as it should. These devices carry a whole host of extra benefits without compromising on air filtering ability.
Some other hay fever top tips:
Keep windows and doors shut on high pollen count days. This is where the dehumidifier and air purifier comes in handy as keeping your living space comfortable.
Change and wash your clothes when you return home to remove any pollen from your body and living space.
Wear wraparound sunglasses and a facemask to protect your eyes and nose.
Dry your clothes indoors. Remember, the dehumidifier comes in handy here too!
If you have pets, wash or wipe them down when they come back into the home.
Try not to cut the grass in hay fever season. If you do, minimise your exposure with eye and nose protection. Make sure your lawnmower has a grass collector bag to minimise pollen circulation.
These suggestions are intended to help, but they are not a substitution for long term hay fever relief. If you’re seriously worried about your hay fever symptoms, always consult a qualified medical professional for an allergy test and formal diagnosis.
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