Coping with Hay Fever

When it's hay fever season the runny noses, sneezing, and wheezing are in full flow.

Hay fever is the most common allergic disorder and pollen from many different sorts of plant can affect us. However grass pollen is the most common culprit affecting about 95% of those with hay fever.

The start of the pollen season is thought to be connected to the length of day and night, so the further away from the equator you go, the later the pollen season starts. Weather conditions also have an affect on the amount of pollen produced and its distribution.

The type of pollen that causes hay fever is also connected to where the sufferer lives. In the UK, most hay fever is caused by grass pollen, while in Scandinavia it is mostly birch pollen and in southern Spain, olive pollen.

Pollen forecasts start on the BBC in April. The first forecast is for tree pollen, which can be a problem at the beginning of the hay fever season.

The grass pollen season generally starts at the beginning of June, but it could start between mid-May and the second week in June. It typically ends at the end of July, but could finish as early as mid-July or as late as August, in extreme conditions.

If you suffer from hay fever at the end of the summer and into early autumn, then you could be allergic to weed pollen or fungal spores.

Pollen forecasts on the BBC are a major part of the weather forecast so those who have hay fever will find out how bad the day will be and make decisions about what they should avoid doing.

The forecasts from National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit. who take readings from sites around the country. The traps, which are on top of buildings, suck in air and any pollen attaches itself to sticky tape. Then every 24 hours, the tape is put under a microscope and the pollen grains are counted to see how many there are in the air.

When all the readings are in a forecast can be compiled. This is then put into a scale system ranging from low to high, which makes it easy to understand.

Understanding the pollen forecast:

Low - A low count means that concentrations of pollen in the air will not be high enough to trigger hay fever for the majority of people. Only those who are exceptionally sensitive will have symptoms.

Moderate - A moderate count may mean symptoms for some sufferers, but they shouldn't be too severe.

High - High and Very High counts will cause suffering to most people with hay fever and can be used to judge when to take medication or avoid outdoor activity.

Pollen counts tend to be highest early in the morning on warm, dry, breezy days and lowest during wet chilly periods. After the first hard frost, pollens vanish.

Hay fever can have an enormous impact on people's lives - affecting driving, exams and carrying out tasks at work. However, modern treatments can help significantly in relieving the symptoms of hay fever and make the pollen season reasonably normal for a lot of sufferers.