Hay fever advice page visits triple as UK pollen count soars
A surge in hay fever sufferers seeking advice on the NHS website has been recorded, with over 122,650 visitors last week as pollen counts reached some of the highest levels this year. According to NHS England, the number of weekly visitors to the hay fever advice pages has tripled in the past five weeks, with the site receiving one visit every three seconds on Sunday.
Hay fever typically affects individuals from late March to September, particularly when the weather is warm, windy, and humid, causing high pollen counts. Although there is no cure for the allergy, most symptoms can be managed with over-the-counter medications.
Asthma sufferers may experience exacerbated symptoms in the coming days due to predicted thunderstorms in parts of the UK. Water from the storms can break down pollen granules into smaller particles, which can then lodge deeper into the airways in the lungs.
The pollen count is expected to remain high or very high across the majority of the UK this week. The NHS website offers recommendations on how to manage symptoms, including:
