How to ease hay fever as pollen count peaks on hottest day
Experts say that the sweltering weather combined with grass pollen at its 'highest levels'.
The South East, East of England, the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber are expected to be the worst-hit regions with 'very high' pollen today, while levels across the rest of the UK are mostly 'high'.
Very high pollen levels for some of us today.
More on different types of pollen here: https://t.co/fHdbyLTnal pic.twitter.com/laDd0f3Hp2 — BBC Weather (@bbcweather) June 29, 2025
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued an amber heat-health alert from midday on Friday, June 27 that lasts until 6pm on Tuesday, July 1 for the East Midlands, South East and East of England.
A less severe, yellow warning is in place Yorkshire and Humber and the West Midlands for the same period.
Now, a leading pharmacist from Well Pharmacy has shared his advice for sufferers facing today's "perfect storm" of misery.
What is hay fever?
Allergic rhinitis occurs when your nose gets irritated by something you're allergic to including pollen causing sneezing and other symptoms. For most people it can be treated with medicines from a pharmacist.
Symptoms of hay fever include sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes, although it is advised to avoid itching the eye area as this increases the need to be scratched.
George Sandhu, deputy superintendent pharmacist for Well, said: 'Today could be the worst day of the year for hay fever sufferers.
'High heat and pollen are the worst of both worlds for sufferers, who should consider limiting their time outside, keeping their windows closed and taking antihistamines.'
'My best advice to sufferers is to start taking your antihistamines right now, even if you have no symptoms yet.
'The earlier you take them, the more your body will be prepared to fight.'
How to lessen hay fever symptoms
Mr Sandhu is also advising the below for hay fever sufferers:
Monitor the pollen count
Limit your time outdoors
Keep windows closed
Change your clothes regularly
Wraparound shades
Consult a pharmacist
Recommended Reading:
Mr Sandhu continued: 'If suffering from hay fever it is best to consult your local pharmacist and discuss what might be the best course of action.
'Well Pharmacy offers a variety of treatments for hay fever, including nasal sprays, eye drops and oral medication that can be taken daily and are effective in hay fever treatment.'
Around 13 million people in the UK are estimated to suffer from hay fever.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
9 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Neurologist warns against popular sleep aid that could fuel your risk of dementia in later life - 'I'd never use it'
A neurologist has revealed he would never use a white noise machine to help himself sleep—because he claims it may increase your risk of dementia. In a recent video, Dr. Baibing Chen, who posts as Dr. Bing on TikTok, told his 144,500 followers that the machines have been linked to hearing loss, one of the known triggers for the devastating illness. It has become a popular trend to listen to 'white noise'—which sounds similar to a television or radio static—to aid sleep, with devotees streaming the soothing background noise from special machines or phone apps. Some sleep professionals and parenting influencers claim that the steady background noise helps the brain focus less on sudden, disruptive noises that could break concentration or wake them up. But Dr. Bing wants people to think twice before they hunker down for their next static-soundtracked good night's sleep. In a new clip, in which the Michigan-based neurologist shared three things he would never do at night, he said: 'I don't blast my white noise machine. 'Not all of you use white noise machines, but if you do, I get it. I use one. You are probably trying to block out traffic, your partner's snoring, or your dog licking his paw at 2 am in the morning. 'But if it is (set) too loud, that can actually lead to hearing damage over time. And, as I have mentioned in my previous videos, hearing loss is one of the biggest risk factors for dementia later in life.' While it's important to stress that there isn't direct evidence linking white noise machines to an increased risk of dementia later in life, there have been studies linking them to hearing loss. However, if the idea of trying to nod off without any background noise is your idea of a living nightmare, don't fret—just turn it down. Dr. Bing advised to make sure the noise is set to no louder than '50 decibels, max'. He added that if you're unable to set the volume on the device itself, you can check the volume with an Apple watch or by using a free phone app like Decibel X which 'literally takes two seconds'. According to the conclusion of a 2021 study which found that the machines are linked to hearing loss in infants, parents should ensure they are placed at least 30cm away from children, and the volume isn't set to the maximum. In 2024, researchers who reviewed 20 studies found existing data supports the need for limiting maximum volume and duration on white noise devices. And earlier this year, US scientists tracked almost 3,000 elderly adults with hearing loss and found almost a third of all dementia cases could be attributed to the issue. It is difficult to make a direct link between these studies to suggest it backs up his claim, because they looked at different age groups. However, several studies suggested a link between being exposed to noise pollution, which is unwanted or disturbing sounds, and dementia. In Dr. Bing's video, which has been watched more than 15,300 times, the second thing the he revealed he would never do is leave a night light on. He said: 'I know it feels cozy to some people and helps you get to the bathroom without stepping on a piece of Lego. 'But even a small artificial or blue light can lower melatonin, spike your blood sugar and keep your brain in a kind of awake mode all night. 'Instead try to use a motion sensing amber night light. It only turns on when you move and doesn't trick your brain into thinking its sunrise, while your just trying to use the bathroom in peace.' The final thing he said he'd never do at night is getting out of bed too quickly, which he claimed can be linked to brain bleeds. He said: 'One of the most common things I see in the hospital in the middle of the night is people coming into the ER with brain bleeds from fainting.' These patients, he explained, get them 'after getting up from bed or up from the toilet too quickly'. After posting the video, several social media users commented they simply can't go without the white noise or a nightlight.
BBC News
9 minutes ago
- BBC News
Burst water pipe floods main road into Eastbourne
A water main has burst on a major road into Eastbourne causing disruption, according to a water East Water said the pipe burst near Eastbourne Road in Willingdon in East Sussex at 13:30 BST on company has apologised to customers affected with no water or low pressure. Drone footage seen by the BBC shows some houses have been flooded. The burst main is close to a new housing estate. The company said a bottled water station would be opened later on Healey, South East Water's incident manager, said: "We have teams changing the way water flows around our network of underground pipes to restore supplies to as many people as possible while repairs take place."We're also delivering bottled water to vulnerable customers who have signed up for our priority services register." A company spokesperson said: "We don't know exactly when tap water supplies will be back to normal, but we're working hard to fix the pipe as quickly and safely as East Water has been asked for details about the exact number of properties affected. A statement on the company's website says it estimates the situation will be resolved by 19:00 on Wednesday. South East Water renewed an urgent plea on Wednesday for residents to reduce water usage.
Daily Mail
10 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Kirstie Allsopp shares ominous picture of empty Tube carriage and warns 'this can't be a good thing'
Kirstie Allsopp has shared an ominous picture of an empty Tube carriage on a weekday morning as she warned it 'can't be a good thing' while seemingly calling out work-from-home culture. However, her twee t backfired as X users pointed out that 'most people were already at work' by the time the Location, Location, Location presenter took the train at 9.20am on a Tuesday morning. On July 1, Kirstie, 53, posted a photo of a 'totally empty tube carriage' on a Central Line train on X, formerly known as Twitter, and captioned the post: 'Don't quite know what it says but it can't be a good thing.' In the comments section, she said the photo was taken after Mile End station, as the train presumably headed east towards Epping on the hottest day of the year so far. The presenter's tweet quickly went viral, with over five million views and 1,300 comments at the time of writing, but most of them were critical as Kirstie hit back at the barrage of 'abuse' she faced in response. Several X users pointed out that Kirstie had missed rush hour and most Londoners were probably already at their desks by the time she boarded the train at 9.20am. One comment read: 'It's 9.20, most people start work at 9am. Plus you're going the opposite way to the majority going into work.' Another X user agreed, adding that Central Line trains from Mile End were 'packed like sardines' at 7.30am. However, her tweet backfired as X users pointed out that 'most people were already at work' by the time the Location, Location, Location presenter took the train at 9.20am on a Tuesday morning A third person noted: 'You clearly have never worked in the City. I would have done two hours of work at my desk by that time.' Another quipped: '[The photo says] No one was late for work?' 'Kirstie most people have jobs,' one comment read. Several others suggested lots of people were likely working from home on the hottest day of the year, as temperatures in London rose to 34.7C on July 1. BBC Radio 4 presenter David Aaronovitch replied asking: 'Too hot?' In response, Kirstie listed all those who don't have the privilege of working from home, writing: 'Not for me or our crew, or police officers, or nurses, supermarket workers, or cabbies, and all the other people who don't get paid to work from home or don't take days off when it's bloody uncomfortable.' Another X user listed all the possible reasons the carriage was empty, adding factors like 'annual leave' and the fact that lots of people 'walk/get the bus when it's hot' because the Central Line doesn't have air conditioning. 'What's even the implication here?' one person questioned Kirstie's tweet. 'Can it not just be a coincidence? You've already got several factors that would mean fewer people - the time, the direction, the location - why read anything more into it?' Her tweet, which has over 1,300 comments at the time of writing, drew mixed reactions Some, however, appeared to agree with the broadcaster as one X user replied: 'Working from home has killed all the sectors that support city life. 'Serious consequences for the economy.' After her tweet blew up online, Kirstie reposted some of the nastier messages she'd received in response as the broadcaster noted 'Twitter just isn't fun anymore' while condeming the 'constant abuse' she endured online. Replying to one X user who questioned whether Kirstie 'ever had a proper job', she said 'I'll take no lectures on not understanding the world of work' after having taken the Tube to work every day for five years. She also pointed out 'there are many reasons an empty Tube' is a worrying economical sign, questioning why there were no tourists or people who work weekends 'having Tuesday off and going to Stratford'. When someone suggested Kirstie, who is the eldest daughter of the late Lord Charles Hindlip, 'wouldn't know that' most people get to work before 9am, she replied the debate was 'not worth it anymore'. Yesterday marked the hottest day of 2025 as temperatures rose past the 30C-mark in many places in the midst of a heatwave. Kirstie's post comes after the TV host revealed how she once received a random FaceTime from an ex-househunter she had helped on Location, Location, Location. The property broadcaster, 53, starred on 25 Years of Location, Location, Location with her co-host and longtime friend, Phil Spencer, 55, in May. The pair were discussing some of the couples they had helped since the Channel 4 programme first aired in 2000. In this time, Kirstie and Phil have carried out 469 searches, viewed 1,810 homes and been trusted with more than £176,000,000 of money from house hunters. Kirstie reflected on the episode where she attempted to find Ruth and Anna a flat the week after the Brexit result. The sisters ended up losing out on the property due to the level of uncertainty that came with leaving the European Union. However, Kirstie divulged that she actually negotiated the apartment they bought a year after they starred on the show, in 2017. She said: 'We lost out on the property we ended up bidding on, a year later I negotiated the purchase of the flat that they finally bought. I always remember that because I always say to everyone don't forget, we're always there for you.' Kirstie then revealed that every home buyer that goes on the show has hers and Phil's personal mobile number - and she once received an unexpected drunk call from a past Location, Location, Location participant. She said: 'Our househunters have our telephone number. I always say "Don't call when drunk!"' But being able to call the hosts at any time appears to get you brownie points in your friendship group - and one intoxicated ex-participant decided to put it to the test. Kirstie said: 'It doesn't always happen, but someone did call me once from the races, FaceTimed me [and said] "Look here I am I wanted to prove to everyone that I had your number'".'
