Millions of people are being urged to shower and change their clothes after being outside this week, as a common health issue could make Brits suffer. With high levels of pollen in the air, people with hay fever will be on alert, as symptoms can persist for days.
Hay fever affects roughly 16 million people in the UK. It is estimated that around 20% to 26% of adults and 10% to 15% of children suffer from this pollen allergy, making it one of the most common ongoing health conditions in the country.
This week, the Met Office is forecasting high pollen across parts of the UK. Some areas will fall under the highest ‘red warning’ from today, June 15, with the full forecast here.
With conditions set to make millions struggle, the NHS has issued advice to the nation. One included a daily habit that could help people settle at home without their allergies being triggered.
The NHS also issued an alert online, and it said: “There are high levels of pollen across some parts of the country over the coming days. Hay fever is a common allergy that causes sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes.”
It added that although sufferers cannot cure the allergy, there are ways to reduce symptoms. One of those tips was to shower and change clothes if you had been outside on days with high pollen levels.
Rinsing off in the shower washes away the pollen trapped on your skin and scalp before it can trigger an allergic reaction. By changing clothes, you can prevent pollen from becoming trapped on indoor soft surfaces like sofas and carpets, drastically reducing your overall allergen exposure at home.
The NHS website claims that hay fever symptoms are usually worse between late March and September. Warm, humid and windy weather tends to make problems worse.
The site added: “Hay fever can last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after one to two weeks.” Speak to a pharmacist if you have hay fever as they can give you advice and suggest the best treatments to help with symptoms.
Some people might benefit from antihistamines (available in drops, tablets or nasal sprays) or steroid nasal sprays. See a GP if symptoms are getting worse or if symptoms do not improve after taking medicines from the pharmacy.