Why hay fever is worse this year – and what you can do about it
Almost exactly 200 years ago, a London-based doctor called John Bostock noticed he would get an itchy throat, sore watering eyes, and an irritated nose during warmer months.
He found 28 other patients suffering with the same symptoms, without explanation. He coined the term hay fever, but it wasn’t until 1859 that scientist Charles Blackley, suffering from symptoms himself, correctly hypothesised that pollen was to blame.
Fast forward to the modern day and it’s estimated around 13 million people in the UK are suffering from hay fever – and research suggests it could get worse.
Here is a look at how pollen causes hay fever, when the season is and why it could feel worse for sufferers this year.
What causes hay fever?
Hay fever is essentially an allergy to pollen, the fine powder plants produce as part of their reproductive cycle.
Pollen contains proteins and people have an allergic reaction to these proteins – hay fever being one of those reactions, along with allergic asthma and eczema.
The symptoms are caused when the immune system reacts to pollen in the body to produce histamine and other chemicals, according to the Met Office.
Hay fever is most commonly caused by grass pollens, although other pollens – of which there are around 30 – can also trigger symptoms.
Insects and the wind help spread pollen, and the weather hugely impacts how much pollen is released and spread around.
Hay fever sufferers may hope for rainy days, when pollen can be cleared from the air, whereas it spreads easily on hot, humid and windy days.
The pollen count is highest in the early evening on sunny days and that’s when you are most likely to suffer from hay fever symptoms, the Met Office says.
When is hay fever season?
Pic: iStock
There are three different types of hay fever seasons, triggered by different types of pollen.
Tree pollen comes first, typically from late March to mid-May, affecting around 25% of hay fever sufferers.
Grass pollen affects the majority of hay fever sufferers due to around 150 types of grass pollen flowering simultaneously. It has two peaks, and its season typically lasts from May until July.
Weed pollen is the third trigger, and it can be released at any time, though the season typically covers the end of June to September.
Why is it worse this year?
It is the tree pollen phase of hay fever season between March and mid-May that will be more severe for sufferers, says Dr Beverley Adams-Groom, senior palynologist and pollen forecaster at the University of Worcester.
She tells Sky News people will likely suffer more severe symptoms due to a particularly high pollen count, saying that’s down to two factors.
“First of all, trees that produce allergenic pollen in the UK tend to have alternating high and low years of severity – this year is a high year,” she says.
“Secondly, there was suitable weather for high pollen production last summer when the pollen was set in the buds.”
It was a particularly warm and dry June, meaning more pollen was produced in birch, leading to a more severe tree pollen season, she explains.
She says central regions of the UK are particularly affected. Southern and eastern regions are being affected less due to periods of cold winds in the spring that tend to reduce the amount of pollen released.
She says grass pollen season is likely to be around average this year, but it’s a bit too early to know for certain.
Read more:
What is the difference between a cyclone, typhoon and hurricane?
How lab-grown food could be on UK shelves within two years
Why it could get worse long-term
Climate change could make hay fever worse in a number of ways, according to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) research:
• Changes in temperature and rainfall may lengthen the UK pollen season and potentially make pollen concentrations higher
• It could change the potency of pollen, making single pollen particles a more threatening allergy-causing agent
• Climate change affecting the geographical distribution of allergenic plants, with invasive species such as ambrosia (common ragweed) being on the watch list. A single ragweed plant can produce a billion grains of pollen per season and its pollen causes strong allergic reactions.
Climate change is already having an impact, according to Dr Adams-Groom, because it’s leading to the sort of warmer June temperatures we saw last year, which led to a higher pollen count.
How can hay fever be treated?
There is unfortunately no cure for hay fever, and you can’t prevent it, so the only option for sufferers is to try and manage its symptoms.
Tips on easing the symptoms include:
• Put Vaseline around the nostrils to trap pollen
• Wear wraparound sunglasses to prevent pollen getting into the eyes
• Stay indoors whenever possible
• Get advice from pharmacists on treatments including antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the ship collision in the North Sea.
Humberside Police said the 59-year-old is in custody to allow enquiries to take place, and officers are talking to those involved to find out what happened.
The force added investigators have started a criminal probe into the cause of the collision between the Stena Immaculate and Solong off the coast of East Yorkshire on Monday, and are working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Ernst Russ, the owner of Solong, later confirmed the man detained was the ship’s captain. The shipping firm called him “the master of the ship” – which is understood to be the same as a captain.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sky News above North Sea ship collision
One person remains missing and is presumed dead after emergency services stopped their search on Monday evening.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is also involved in early work to determine what caused the two vessels to collide.
Read more: What we know about the collision
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Map shows moment of collision in North Sea
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson, said: “Humberside Police have taken primacy for the investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels.
“Extensive work has already been carried out, and we are working closely with our partners to understand what happened, and to provide support to all of those affected.
“Following enquiries undertaken by my team, we have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision, this follows the conclusion of search operations by HM Coastguard for the missing crew member of the SOLONG.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
North Sea: Sailor presumed dead
He added: “Our thoughts are with the family of the missing crew member, and I have appointed family liaison officers to make contact and provide support to the family.
“The man arrested remains in custody at this time whilst enquiries are under way, and we continue speaking with all those involved to establish the full circumstances of the incident.”
Ernst Russ added in a later statement that it could confirm the master of the Solong “has been detained by Humberside Police in the UK”.
“The master and our entire team are actively assisting with the investigations,” the shipping firm said.
“Out of respect for the investigation and all involved we will not comment further at this time.”
Read more:
Oil tanker collision could have lethal ecological impact
Sky News above North Sea ship collision
HM Coastguard said in an update that the Solong is still alight
US tanker Stena Immaculate was anchored off the coast of East Yorkshire when the Solong crashed into it at around 9.45am on Monday.
Some 36 people were brought safely to the shore, but one person was reported missing from the cargo ship.
At least one tank of Jet-A1 fuel onboard the Stena Immaculate was ruptured, its operator said
At around 11.20pm, the Solong started to drift southwards away from the crash site. HM Coastguard said in an update earlier on Tuesday that the ship is still alight.
Tugboats are in the vicinity to ensure it remains away from the coast
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the container ship is expected to stay afloat, after a minister told parliament that it could sink earlier in the day.
She said she met with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s chief executive Virginia McVea, and was “pleased to have been informed that early indications suggest that both vessels are now expected to stay afloat”.
Ernst Russ also denied reports the vessel was carrying sodium cyanide and said: “There are four empty containers that have previously contained the hazardous chemical.
“These containers will continue to be monitored.”
Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel in 16 tanks, at least one of which was ruptured, its operator also said.
UK
Triple killer Kyle Clifford will serve whole-life sentence for murdering BBC commentator’s family
Triple killer Kyle Clifford has been handed a whole-life sentence for murdering his ex-girlfriend, her mother and her sister.
Warning: This article contains distressing details.
The sentence imposed by Mr Justice Bennathan means he will never be released.
The former soldier, 26, admitted murdering BBC racing commentator John Hunt’s wife Carol Hunt, 61, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
He also pleaded guilty to false imprisonment of his former partner Louise, as well as possession of the crossbow used to kill her and her sister, and the 10-inch butcher’s knife he stabbed their mother to death with.
Louise Hunt
Pic: Facebook
Clifford denied raping Louise, who had broken up with him 13 days before the four-hour attack in the Hunt family home on 9 July last year.
But he was found guilty by a jury last week after a trial at Cambridge Crown Court, which he refused to attend, prompting police and prosecutors to brand him a “coward”.
The judge paid tribute “to the astonishing dignity and courage” of the victims’ family, including John Hunt and his surviving daughter Amy, who hugged after the sentence.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Footage shows Clifford fleeing the Hunt family home
They, along with Hannah’s partner Alex Klein, had read emotional victim impact statements in court as Mr Hunt said hell would roll out the “red carpet” for him.
He said the evidence showed Clifford “to be a jealous man, soaked in self-pity – a man who holds women in utter contempt”.
The court heard Clifford, from Enfield, north London, began planning the murders after Louise ended their 18-month relationship in a message on 26 June.
Carol Hunt pictured with her husband John Hunt.
Pic: Facebook
He tricked his way inside before stabbing her mother to death in what prosecutors said was a “brutal knife attack”, then lay in wait for an hour for Louise to enter the house.
Clifford held her for more than two hours, as he restrained her with duct tape and raped her, then shot her through the chest with a crossbow moments before her sister Hannah got home and was also killed.
He fled the scene and shot himself with the weapon as armed police descended and is now paralysed from the chest down.
The recovered crossbow.
Pic: Hertfordshire Police
The 10-inch butcher’s knife Clifford used was never found but police released an image of the packaging.
Pic: PA
The judge told Clifford, who didn’t attend his sentencing hearing, he went to the Hunt family home to launch “a murderous attack” on his ex-girlfriend’s family.
“You first killed her mother Carol, who even on that day showed you nothing but kindness in the moments before you attacked her,” he said.
“You raped and killed Louise who had been as gentle as she could in ending her relationship with you, after your arrogance and anger proved too much for her to stand.
“Then you murdered Hannah Hunt, who had done nothing to harm you save supporting her little sister.”
The jury wasn’t told Clifford had searched for Andrew Tate’s podcast less than 24 hours before the murders.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said “it is no coincidence” he turned to the “poster boy for misogynists – a poster boy for those who view women as possession to be controlled” the night before committing such “acts of violence against women”.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports11 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway