Easter pollen bomb set to bring misery for millions – GP’s 10 must-dos to prepare

THE bank holiday's festivities might be marred for some, as parts of the UK will be hit by a pollen bomb just in time for Easter. A GP has shared her top 10 tips to prepare for soaring pollen counts and ease miserable hay fever symptoms. 2 Brits have been warned to expect high pollen counts over Easter weekend The Easter bank holiday is set to kick off with 'very high' pollen counts in Yorkshire and the Humber, the East and West Midlands, and the East and South East of England.

Meanwhile, Wales, the North West and the North East will be buffeted with 'high' levels of pollen, according to Met Office predictions . Pollen counts are set to slump slightly on Saturday, though they'll still remain 'high' in Yorkshire and the Humber, the East and West Midlands, and the East and South East of England. As for Easter Sunday, hay fever sufferers in the North East and South West of England, the East and West Midlands, and Wales should be aware of rising pollen levels.



Read more on hay fever CLEAR THE AIR Do hay fever drugs really 'damage' your brain - as 3 other risks revealed RIGHT BACK ATCHOO Handy Vaseline trick, a big hat and six other tips to help hack hay fever Up to one in five adults and kids in the UK suffer from hay fever, which brings on uncomfortable, cold-like symptoms like a runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing and congestion. "Unlike a cold, which lasts around three to seven days, hay fever symptoms last as long as you are exposed to the allergen and can get particularly bad when pollen levels are high," Dr Alexis Missick, GP who works with online prescription service UK Meds , said. People may also be struck with coughing, itching in the throat, mouth, nose and ears, headaches and tiredness.

Hay fever is an allergy to pollen, the fine powder produced by plants and trees during spring, summer and early autumn. Most read in Health SHOCK FIND Condition affecting 10 million detected as stroke risk factor in young people COSTLY HABIT Teen 'hours from death' with LITRE of liquid trapped in her lung after vaping SLIM WINNER Obese dad sheds 22st after supermarket collapse left him fearing for life ROBO-SURGEONS 11 robot surgery machines approved to perform organ removal in the NHS "Hay fever symptoms occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly identifies pollen as a threat and produces an antibody called immunoglobulin to fight it off," the GP went on. "The kind of pollen that people are allergic to can vary, with grass pollen being the most common allergen.

Woman missed her brother’s wedding because of ‘life-ruining’ hay fever symptoms "This is why the vast majority of hay fever sufferers notice their symptoms are at their worst in the late spring and summer. "However, people can suffer from hay fever due to a variety of pollens; tree pollen is at its peak in the spring, weed pollen is more common in autumn and spores from fungi peak in warm weather. "Identifying which kind you are allergic to will, in turn, help you to manage your symptoms.

" Dr Missick shared 10 easy ways to prepare for this weekend's pollen bomb and ease your sniffling, sneezing and itching. 2 1. Avoid alcohol Going easy on the booze over the bank holiday might lessen your misery, the GP said.

"Avoiding alcoholic drinks can alleviate or reduce symptoms as alcohol consumption can add to the overall histamine load in the body, subsequently exacerbating hay fever symptoms," she explained. 2. Slather on Vaseline Another way to avoid symptoms is to stop pollen from entering your body in the first place.

"Petroleum jelly can be used by those suffering from hay fever symptoms to trap pollen before it is ingested by the body," according to Dr Missick. Hay fever first aid kit Analyse your symptoms and find the best medication kit for you..

. Antihistamines Antihistamines (cetirizine or loratadine) work by blocking histamine in the body, which is released when the body detects something it thinks is harmful. Histamine causes blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell, but in people with hay fever, also causes an allergic reaction.

That’s the watering eyes, blocked nose, rashes and so on. Max Wiseberg, airborne allergens expert and creator of HayMax, says that many antihistamines are available on prescription, such as Telfast, which you can see your GP for or get through an online doctor, such as LloydsPharmacy. Telfast, and other prescription-only antihistamine tablets, work in the same way as over-the-counter antihistamines, but are stronger and intended to help with more severe symptoms.

“Get your prescription in advance of the season so you have your medication in time to start taking it at the right time,” he says. “Some are best taken at least one month before the hay fever season starts." Nasal sprays A nasal spray can be effective in controlling congestion and stuffiness.

Pharmacists can advise on nasal sprays (sodium cromoglicate, ipratropium bromide or decongestant), and eye drops, too. Nasal sprays can also help with other symptoms of hay fever “because the medicine is targeted directly to the nose, which is where the vast majority of allergens enter the body”, Max says. Independent pharmacist Rita Ghelani says: “Try Xlear nasal spray, which contains xylitol, and has anti-bacterial properties and keeps the nasal lining moist.

“If symptoms are more severe, then try an anti-inflammatory nasal spray – sometimes referred to as a steroid nasal spray – which can take a few days to work. “Start with one that contains beclomethasone, which is used twice a day, in the morning and at night.” Rita also advises cleaning the nose with a saline nasal spray before a steroid spray, saying: “It will remove sticky mucus from the nasal passage, thus improving the effectiveness of the medication.

” Eye drops If itchy eyes are your primary concern, Rita says: “Try using sodium cromoglicate eye drops. "These make the eyes less sensitive to allergens such as pollen and reduce irritation. "They need to be used four times a day to keep the levels of the active ingredient high enough to be effective.

"Keep using them even if symptoms improve. “Using a good eye drop to lubricate the eyes may also help with dry eyes during the summer months.” "On days when the pollen count is particularly high, placing Vaseline around the nostril can ease symptoms.

" 3. Choose spicy foods The GP suggested adding some spice to your Easter menu to help bring some relief. "Consuming spicy food can temporarily relieve hay fever symptoms like nasal congestion or a runny nose by helping to thin the mucus," she said.

But she noted "although "this is not a long-term cure". 4. Wear sunnies Rethinking your accessories is a good idea too - wraparound sunnies might not be the most stylish option out there, but they might stop your eyes from getting sore and itchy.

"Wearing wraparound sunglasses can provide relief from symptoms related to your eyes by creating a barrier that reduces exposure of your eyes to pollen and other allergens present in the environment," Dr Missick said. 5. Shower it off If you've spent time out and about, rinsing off pollen afterwards could help ease symptoms.

Dr Missick said: "Showering after being outdoors can be a helpful step in managing hay fever symptoms by removing allergens caught on your body and providing a refreshing effect after being outdoors." 6. Change it up Follow the same logic by changing your clothes too.

"Changing your clothes when you get home and ensuring your clothes are washed regularly can reduce the amount of allergens, such as pollen, that may be present on your clothing, contributing to hay fever symptoms," the GP said. 7. Prep you home It's worth adding a few tweaks to your cleaning routine - it could spare you the grief of allergy symptoms in your own home.

"Vacuuming and keeping windows and doors closed during peak hay fever symptoms will stop pollen and other allergens from entering and collecting in your home," the GP suggested. "This should ensure that even if the pollen count outside is high, inside the home is allergen-free." 8.

Add pollen filters You might also consider picking up some pollen filters for you car. "These can be fitted inside the air vents of vehicles to stop pollen from entering when driving," according to Dr Missick. "They are designed to trap and filter out various airborne particles, including pollen, dust and other allergens.

" 9. Rinse your hair You might want to forget about hair-training for the foreseeable, as washing or rinsing your hair often could help when it comes to hay fever. "As well as regular showers, you may want to wash or rinse your hair more during hay fever season as pollen can settle on your hair and stick to strands of hair easily," the GP said.

Read more on the Scottish Sun SPICE OF LIFE Scotland's best Indian restaurant crowned - see all the winners in your area JOBS BLOW Scots engineering firm 'goes bust as 48 jobs lost' 10. Keep pets clean You furry friends might also need a bath. "In the same way that pollen can stick to human hair, pets collect pollen and other allergens, which they can spread around your home.

Keeping pets clean will help to prevent this.".