TIME TO HIT THE HAY

WITH THE ALLERGY SEASON UPON US AND THE POLLEN COUNT SOARING, FOLLOW OUR GUIDE TO COMBAT ITCHING AND SNEEZES

- SUSANNA GALTON

THE POLLEN COUNT IS THE NUMBER OF GRAINS OF POLLEN IN A CUBIC METRE OF AIR

The evenings are lighter, the days are warmer and we’re increasingly leaving the house without our coats. But the onset of summer isn’t necessarily good news for everyone. About 16 million Britons suffer from hay fever, with itchy eyes, sneezing and a runny nose making their lives miserable every year…

THE HAY FEVER MYTH 

"The term hay fever is very misleading," says Professor Stephen Durham, head of the allergy section at Imperial College London. "It's not caused by hay and it doesn't cause a fever."

It's actually a common allergic condition caused by pollen - the fine powder released by plants as part of their reproductive systems. The proteins in pollen are what cause irritation to the nose, eyes, throat and sinuses.

RISK FACTORS

There's a strong genetic link, so it's common for hay fever to run in families, although passive smoking during childhood dramatically increases the risk of developing the allergy. Town and city dwellers are often the worst hit, because the air stays warmer for longer in built-up areas and air pollution may exacerbate hay fever symptoms.

ASTHMA EFFECTS