We're well into hay fever season, with a high pollen count set to linger throughout this week.
June coincides with grass pollen season, the strains that most hay fever sufferers are allergic to. And to some, hay fever is worse than ever at the moment.
Well, there are reasons hay fever is so bad this year. The Met Office has said particularly potent pollen and turbulent but warm weather have combined to make hay fever season particularly miserable this year.
Read more: UK weather to be hotter than Jamaica
Why is hay fever getting worse?
Speaking on the Met Office's podcast, the forecasting service's relationship manager for food and air quality, Yolanda Clewlow, spoke about how pollen is stronger this year.
She said: "The potency of these pollen grains could be more intense this year, and that comes down to the weather we've had in spring.
"A warm and wet May, coupled with a relatively warm spring, mean there's a chance that the pollen that has developed is particularly potent."
Allergy expert Dr Sophie Farooque explained on Good Morning Britain.
She said: "We know that due to climate change, the pollen season is lasting longer, we know that grasses are releasing more pollen, about 20% more and in addition, due to climate change and air pollution, some of those pollen grains are actually becoming more potent, so they are more allergy-inducing."
"The changes in our climate are leading to longer pollen seasons and people are experiencing more symptoms".
How can I stop hay fever?
If you develop hay fever symptoms, like a runny nose, itchy eyes or sneezing, you should initially try antihistamine tablets that you can buy in pharmacies and shops.
Avoid "first-generation anti-histamines" like chlorpheniramine, Dr Farooque told Good Morning Britain, as they can make you very drowsy. "You want to use the newer antihistamines, things like Cetirizine, Loratadine or Fexofenadine," she explained.
These are available in one-a-day pills and can be bought without a prescription, often for low prices at retailers like B&M, Home Bargains and Wilkos
The hay fever tablets don't work on me, what about nasal sprays?
Nasal sprays can work, but don't expect them to be a quick fix. Dr Farooque said to buy a nasal spray that is specific for hay fever, but warned it can take up to two weeks for it to take effect.
She added: "If an antihistamine doesn't settle it, then the next stage is to choose a nasal spray and what you'll find in supermarket shelves is they are all jumbled up. And the ones for that are cold and flu remedies are not designed for hayfever, and actually, if you use them for too long, they can make your symptoms worse and they can make you more blocked.
"So you want a hay fever-specific spray."
Should I try the "injection" for hay fever?
You may have heard of a steroid injection hay fever sufferers can get to alleviate symptoms. You can get the injection privately, but not on the NHS, due to worries over side effects.
Allergy expert Dr Farooque said: "The injection is basically a very high dose of steroids that, although it works, it's not recommended because of potential side effects. So it can cause your bones to thin, you can get changes to your skin at the site of the injection and in the long term, it increases diabetes risk.
"So what I would be telling patients is you need to try old treatments. If they're not working, get referred to a specialist where you can think about having what's called immunotherapy, which means being desensitised to pollen. That's far safer than having the injection, which although it works, the side effects are such that actually doctors are advised not to prescribe them."
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