The height of summer is almost upon is with June being just days away.
As we welcome in a new month, we're also welcoming a lot of sunshine with temperatures reaching new highs with Glasgow and other areas soaring to their mid-twenties.
But as the weather gets warmer, the chances of your hay fever (if you're unlucky enough to suffer with it) acting up increases - and so the months of sneezing, headaches and eyes watering begins.
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Hay fever, according to the NHS, is an allergic reaction to pollen, typically when it comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes and throat. Pollen is a fine powder from plants.
It usually occurs in sufferers between late March and September - especially when it's warm, humid and windy - as this is when the pollen count is at its highest.
But what symptoms should you look out for and how is it treated? Here is what you need to know.
Symptoms of hay fever
These can include:
- sneezing and coughing
- a runny or blocked nose
- itchy, red or watery eyes
- itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
- loss of smell
- pain around your temples and forehead
- headache
- earache
- feeling tired
If you have asthma, you might also:
- have a tight feeling in your chest
- be short of breath
- wheeze and cough
Unlike a cold, which usually vanished after a week or two, hay fever will last for weeks or months, says the NHS.
You should however see a GP if your symptoms are getting worse or do not improve after taking medicines from the pharmacy
How to treat hay fever
Do:
put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen
wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes
shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off
stay indoors whenever possible
keep windows and doors shut as much as possible
vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth
buy a pollen filter for the air vents in your car and a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter
try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities
Don't
do not cut grass or walk on grass
do not spend too much time outside
do not keep fresh flowers in the house
do not smoke or be around smoke – it makes your symptoms worse
do not dry clothes outside – they can catch pollen
do not let pets into the house if possible – they can carry pollen indoors
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