To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Hay Fever and Asthma Sufferers Urged To Take Precautions Ahead Of Jubilee Weekend

Hay Fever and Asthma Sufferers Urged To Take Precautions Ahead Of Jubilee Weekend

Keep the antihistamines on standby.

Those who are prone to asthma or hay fever have been warned to prepare for the bank holiday weekend ahead, with a high pollen count on the cards for some regions of the UK.

With Brits out and about for the Jubilee celebrations - hosting street parties, enjoying barbecues and spending time in the sunny weather - many will be exposed to high pollen.

Southern areas will be mostly affected, but those in the South West, London, the South East, the East of England, the East Midlands, the West Midlands, Wales and the North West will all be faced with medium to high levels of pollen over the course of the weekend.

Hayfever and asthma sufferers have been warned ahead of the weekend.
Pexels

Earlier this month, when the pollen count was particularly high, Asthma and Lung UK urged sufferers to keep their preventer and reliever inhalers on-hand to prevent asthma attacks or flare-ups.

Pollen can see those with asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) suffer from a tight chest, and shortness of breath and a wheeze or a cough.

Clinical lead for Asthma and Lung UK, Dr Andy Whittamore warned that a high pollen count can be "deadly" to those who suffer with lung conditions.

Urging people to stay vigilant, he suggested: "Using your preventer inhalers as prescribed is important as the medicine reduces sensitivity and swelling in the airways.

High pollen counts can be deadly to asthma sufferers.
Alamy

"We also advise people to carry their reliever inhalers every day, especially when they are out and about enjoying the sunshine in case pollen does cause a flare-up of their symptoms.

"The third thing people can do is to use a steroid nasal spray every day, together with non-drowsy antihistamine tablets to help stop the allergic reaction."

High pollen levels will also see hay fever sufferers dealing with symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy eyes and throat, tiredness, headaches and sneezing.

Asthma sufferers have been urged to keep inhalers nearby this weekend.
Unsplash

While there is no known cure or preventative measure for hay fever, there are a number of tips recommended by the NHS that can help to ease symptoms.

These include, staying indoors and keeping windows shut when possible if pollen counts are high, putting Vaseline around your nostrils, wearing wraparound sunglasses, buying a pollen filter for the air vents in your car, and vacuuming and dusting regularly.

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock

Topics: Health, Weather