Hay fever sufferers may be in for a rough few days with a so-called "pollen bomb" set to hit the UK this weekend, with the warm, dry weather contributing to heightened pollen levels.
The Met Office has warned those with allergies to prepare for weeks of hay fever, with the first grass pollen peak typically occurring within the first two weeks of June followed by a second peak at the start of July. The first peak is expected to hit on Tuesday, June 13 this year as parts of the UK see scorching summer temperatures, with a heatwave warning in place for some regions at the weekend.
With pollen levels rising, people may find themselves experiences a variety of hay fever symptoms in the coming days- and it's not all about itchy eyes and blocked noses. Independent prescribing pharmacist at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor Rumeet Patel explained that while most people will recognise the common symptoms of hay fever, sufferers may not realise that pollen is the culprit behind some other lesser-known unpleasant symptoms, WalesOnline repprts.
READ MORE: NHS list of hay fever signs and how you can ease symptoms when pollen is high
"Even if you don’t have hay fever yourself, approximately one in five people in the UK experience this condition so you're probably aware of the common symptoms," Rumeet said. "These include a runny, itchy or blocked nose, sneezing, itchy or watery red eyes, and an itchy throat. You may have just one or two of these symptoms or the whole list.
"Although less common, there are some more surprising symptoms of hay fever such as excessive sweating and loss of taste and smell. As the pollen count rises, it's important the public recognise these unusual symptoms." Here are five little-known hay fever symptoms to watch out for:
Face pain
"Many people don't realise that hay fever can cause pain around the cheeks, eyes and forehead," Rumeet pointed out. "When you have hay fever, the small air-filled cavities behind the cheekbones and forehead can become inflamed or blocked. This pressure can cause facial pain."
Headaches and migraines
"There is also a link between headaches and hay fever," the pharmacist said. "Sinus inflammation can cause a build-up of pressure which results in a sinus headache.
"This tends to feel as if there is intense pressure inside the head or behind the eyes. The histamines released during a hay fever account can also give rise to migraines."
Loss of smell and taste
Rumeet said: "Although less common, loss of smell can be a symptom of hay fever. Also known as anosmia, inflammation in the nasal passages can impact our sense of smell.
"This is the body’s way of limiting the amount of pollen that reaches the nose. As taste and smell are linked, if you experience anosmia, you are also likely to notice some loss of taste too."
He added: "Of course, a loss or change in your sense of taste or smell is a symptom of Covid-19. Therefore, you should consider testing or staying at home and avoiding contact with others if you also have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to carry out normal activities."
Excessive sweating
"Sweating more than usual can be an embarrassing symptom of hay fever," Rumeet explained. "Excessive sweating can be caused by stress, pain or when your immune system is vulnerable - all factors which can occur in hay fever."
Asthma
And finally, the pharmacist said: If you have asthma, you may find hay fever worsens symptoms like wheezing and breathlessness. In fact, some people also find they only experience asthma symptoms during hay fever season.
"People with hay fever are also much more likely to develop asthma." Hay fever can generally be managed with allergy treatments and lifestyle changes, such as limiting time spent outside, while a doctor may be able to help with more serious cases.
"Some people experience such bad hay fever symptoms that it can affect daily activities such as sleep and work," Rumeet said. "In this case, or if your symptoms get worse or have not improved after 2-4 weeks of taking treatments recommended by a pharmacist, you should see your GP."
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