Many people who suffer with hayfever are feeling it more than usual right now. Wales has experienced a particularly long dry spell of weather which is contributing to high levels of pollen in the air.
According to the Met Office, there are a number of perfect conditions for pollen to thrive. For grass, temperatures between 18 - 28 °C could give a high count if it’s a dry day with low humidity and a gentle breeze.
The pollen forecast for Wales for the next few days is very high, with grass pollen in its "peak". The pollen count is predicted to reach a peak on Tuesday, June 13, although the Met Office is warning sufferers to prepare for weeks of hay fever, as we move into “grass season”. You can get more story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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Most people with hay fever experience itchy eyes, sneezing and a blocked or runny nose. But there are some lesser-known symptoms of the condition that people may be suffering with right now. According to LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, Rumeet Patel, there are five unusual symptoms that people with hayfever may experience:
1. Excessive sweating
Sweating more than usual can be an embarrassing symptom of hay fever. Excessive sweating can be caused by stress, pain or when your immune system is vulnerable - all factors which can occur in hay fever.
2. Loss of smell and taste
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.
Of course, a loss or change in your sense of taste or smell is also a symptom of Covid. 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.
3. Headaches and migraines
There is also a link between headaches and hay fever. 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 hay fever can also give rise to migraines.
4. Face pain
Many people don’t realise that hay fever can cause pain around the cheeks, eyes and forehead. 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.
5. Asthma
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.
Generally, hay fever can be managed via allergy treatments and lifestyle changes such as limiting time spent outside. However, some people experience such bad hay fever symptoms that it can affect daily activities such as sleep and work. 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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