'Pollen bomb' will hit Britain over Bank Holiday weekend
As Britain prepares for high temperatures over the Bank Holiday weekend, those who suffer from asthma and hay fever will prepare for the worst as a 'pollen bomb' hits the country.
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A potentially deadly “pollen bomb” will hit Britain this week, putting millions of asthmatics and hay fever sufferers at risk.
While much of the country will bask in glorious sunshine over the Easter weekend, the warm weather could trigger serious health problems for some.
Asthma and hay fever sufferers have been warned to stay indoors on Saturday as temperatures are set to soar to 73F (23C).
Steve Willington, from the Met Office, said: “From today, temperatures will start to rise day by day and with the sun getting stronger at this time of year, it’s going to feel very warm by the time we get to Good Friday and Easter Saturday.”
As the mercury rockets, however, so will pollen levels.
Sonia Munde, from Asthma UK, said: “Around 3.3 million people with asthma are affected by pollen, which can cause symptoms such as wheezing, a tight chest or coughing.
“Trees have been releasing pollen for several weeks but the warm weather is going to make these pollen levels spike.
“Everyone with asthma should keep their blue reliever inhaler with them at all times in case of an emergency.” The high pollen count could also mean Britain’s 18 million hay fever sufferers have their Bank Holiday weekend spoiled by sneezing, coughing, headaches and either a runny or blocked nose.
Thanks to an unusually warm winter that brought record-breaking highs of 21C (70F) in February, hay fever season started three weeks earlier than usual.
Around 30 different types of pollen cause hay fever, although most sufferers are allergic to grass pollen, which is common in late spring and early summer.
On warm days, the pollen count is highest in the early evening – which is when sufferers are most likely to experience symptoms.
Holly Shaw, a nurse adviser from Allergy UK, said that those who suffer from hay fever should start taking their medication as soon as they feel symptoms coming on.
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Ms Shaw also advised anyone concerned about the high pollen levels to speak to a pharmacist.
She said: “A pharmacist is a good source of knowledge on the wide range of treatments and medication choices available to treat specific hay fever symptoms.”
The Met Office predicts changeable, cooler weather will arrive from the north-west from Easter Sunday.