A perfect storm of pollen is about to start.

Due to months of snow, ice and freezing temperatures trees have delayed releasing pollen. Trees produce pollen when certain temperatures are reached and sustained before they release their pollen. Birch, Horse Chestnut, Alder, and Hazel are the main culprits. The season usually starts end of February through March and April. Weeks of below temperatures have, however, put pollen production on hold. Now the warmer weather has arrived we will have a potential pollen surge, not a staggered release. This means suffers will not have had time to adjust to gradually rising levels of pollen. It could feel like a more intense amount of pollen. This intensity could affect people who do not normally suffer symptoms who could start having a streaming nose and running eyes.
Often a few days of rain which washes pollen out of the air can alienate symptoms, but sunny and windy days an send pollen counts soaring.
The late pollen season will now collide with the begging of the grass pollen season. This will make your symptoms even more brutal if you suffer from tree and grass pollen allergies. Air pollution also plays a role, greenhouse gasses which include carbon dioxide can accelerate plant growth including grasses and summertime weeds. It seems it will be a very heavy year for pollen.

What can we do?
Over the counter medication is best stated at least two weeks before the season starts. These include antihistamines, eye drops, and nasal sprays. Stay indoors when the pollen count is high. It is easy to monitor via an app which you can download. Allergy UK states that Hay fever/Allergic rhinitis accounts for 16.7 million visits to the doctor each year. Medication can stop the symptoms of Allergic rhinitis but they do not prevent the condition.
If your symptoms are significantly serious your doctor could consider referring you to Sub Lingual immunotherapy. (SLIT) via the nearest Allergy Dept at a hospital

Controlling the environment
Keep the outside out. Don’t have laundry on the line during the season pollen will fall on it and you can contaminate the house. Shower after outdoor activities washing the pollen off. Wrap around sunglasses. Hay Max which you apply around the nose so the pollen can stick to it. Wash pets after walking. All of these can help.

Probiotics a novel approach
Recent studies have shown that they are begging to have a role to play in the prevention of Allergy including hay fever.

PLOS Medicine Venessa Garcia-Larsen

Remember if you are display symptoms all year it is probable that other allergens / triggers might be involved eg. House dust mites and or certain food.

Please contact me for further help and advice .