Latest news with #VikkiFurneaux
Wales Online
30-04-2025
- Climate
- Wales Online
Weather map turns red with warnings issued for Wales as 'worrying' trend emerges
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Hayfever sufferers in Wales are having to brace for itchy eyes and runny noses in the coming days. Allied to a potentially record-breaking spell of warm weather are forecasts for 'very high' pollen levels. Red warnings for pollen have been issued by the Met Office for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (April 29 to May 1), with amber 'high' alerts for Friday and Saturday (May 2-3). The forecaster expects significant levels of airborne oak pollen in Wales. Some Plane pollen is also circulating, though these trees are mostly concentrated in southern England. Both are common cause of allergic reactions, the latter especially in urban areas. In sensitive individuals, they can exacerbate asthma. With peak hayfever season fast approaching, searches for 'pollen count' have hit an average of 33,000-a-month. This is expected to rise significantly once grass pollen becomes established as this affects an estimated 95% of Britain's 10m-plus hayfever sufferers. Recent research suggests hayfever seasons are getting longer in Britain, with climate change increasing the number of days each year when conditions are ripe for the allergy. Temperature plays an important role in pollen release, with trees shedding pollen between 13C-15C and grass between 18C-28C, according to the Met Office. The theory is that warmer temperatures caused by climate change are leading to longer growing seasons for pollen-producing plants. The result is extended periods of allergy symptoms for sufferers. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Analysis supports this, showing that Britain saw a steadily increasing number of pollen-producing days between 1994 and 2024, with southern areas worst affected. The research was carried out by Round Our Way, a not-for-profit climate change company in the UK. (Image: Met Office) The organisation found that, since 1994, Wales has seen the annual pollen season lengthen by average of 19 days, the same as in Scotland. In England and northern Ireland, the figure was 20 days. Sofie Jenkinson, co-director of Round Our Way, said: 'Hayfever is becoming an almost year-round problem for sufferers in the UK. Longer hay fever seasons are just one of the health impacts Brits are facing as temperatures in the UK rise. 'As we all see around us, climate change is making Britain warmer and a lot wetter. We urgently need politicians to make sure we are better prepared for the worrying new weather we're facing and to tackle the pollution that is causing it.' Some research has shown that air pollution may make pollen grains more potent and so more likely to trigger an allergic reaction. Increased carbon dioxide levels may also enhance pollen production, making hayfever more severe. Pharmacist, Vikki Furneaux, 44, from York, believes the hayfever season is 'definitely longer and also more erratic'. She said: 'When I graduated, people took medication for around a two-month period but now they are less sure when the season is. 'Sufferers are also coming up against some of the cold and flu season and some of the symptoms are similar to hayfever, so it's more difficult to get on top of things. Some people are coming in with symptoms they didn't realise were hayfever.' For the three days until temperatures peak on Thursday (May 1), pollen levels are also expected to be 'very high' in the south and middle of England, and 'high' in northern England. Only in northern Scotland is relief possible, with levels mostly rated as 'low' this week. Counter-intuitively, a heatwave may help sufferers. The Met Office notes that pollen levels decrease if temperatures rise above 28C. If several warm days occur in a row, pollen supplies can run out altogether. UK temperatures are indeed forecast to exceed 28C this week, though probably not in Wales. For a heatwave to be officially declared in Wales, temperatures will need to exceed 25C on three successive days, which is not impossible in parts of the country this week. In the Border counties, the Met Office's three-day heatwave threshold is 26C. In London and surrounding counties, it's 28C. It can be easy to under-estimate the misery pollen brings: while a cold typically lasts for one to two weeks, hayfever can last for weeks or even months depending on pollen counts and season. Keeping an eye on the Met Office website for daily updates symptoms can help keep a lid on symptoms. Experts reckon the best time of day to get outdoors is around midday, as pollen counts are typically at their lowest. A good tip is to shower and change your clothes after being outdoors to rinse away trapped pollen. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox By the same reasoning, washing is often best dried indoors on high-pollen days as grass pollen can easily get onto clothes while drying outside. Closing windows in your house and car is another way to minimise exposure to pollen. Find the weather forecast where you live
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hay fever season ‘definitely longer and also more erratic', says York pharmacist
The hay fever season is 'definitely longer and also more erratic', a York pharmacist has said. Vikki Furneaux, a pharmacist at the Monkbar Pharmacy in Goodramgate, said rising global temperatures brought on by climate change have led to an increase in pollen levels over a longer season. The pharmacist said over the counter medication can be used to 'keep on top of hay fever'. But she said the medication is an added expense amid the cost-of-living crisis, adding: 'The best way to get on top of symptoms is to use a combination of items, which costs more money.' 'Tablets don't work for everyone, and the effects wear off,' she said. "Using a steroid nasal spray can help prevent symptoms and eye drops can also be useful, but these may be unaffordable for some.' Vikki Furneaux, a pharmacist at the Monkbar Pharmacy (Image: Supplied) The pharmacist said that while some people qualify for free prescriptions it is NHS policy 'not to prescribe things that can be bought over the counter'. 'So it is harder to get a prescription for hay fever unless over the counter medication is not working for you.' The 44-year-old said people took hay fever medication for 'around a two-month period' when she graduated but are now uncertain about when the season is. And the longer hay fever seasons means it is 'more unpredictable' for people to know when to take medication, she added. Ms Furneaux said hay fever symptoms beginning earlier means 'sufferers are also coming up against some of the cold and flu season'. 'Some of the [cold and flu] symptoms are similar to hay fever – so it's more difficult to get on top of things,' the pharmacist said. 'Some people are coming in with symptoms they didn't realise were hay fever.' Read more: GP shares 6 unusual hacks that can help you sleep with hay fever symptoms Sofie Jenkinson, co-director of Round Our Way, an organisation that supports people impacted by weather extremes in the UK, said: 'Longer hay fever seasons are just one of the health impacts Brits are facing as temperatures in the UK rise. 'As we all see around us, climate change is making Britain warmer and a lot wetter. 'We urgently need politicians to make sure we are better prepared for the worrying new weather we're facing and to tackle the pollution that is causing it.' Michelle Young, climate impacts research associate at US-based non-profit news organisation Climate Central, said: 'Warmer spring and autumn temperatures, driven by climate change, are extending the pollen season, causing hay fever sufferers to experience symptoms earlier and for longer periods. 'As temperatures rise, allergy symptoms are becoming more frequent, sometimes occurring outside the typical peak times. 'Without significant reductions in emissions, this trend is expected to worsen, leading to greater discomfort for those with seasonal allergies.'
North Wales Live
30-04-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
Weather map turns red with warnings issued for Wales as 'worrying' trend emerges
Hayfever sufferers in Wales are having to brace for itchy eyes and runny noses in the coming days. Allied to a potentially record-breaking spell of warm weather are forecasts for 'very high' pollen levels. Red warnings for pollen have been issued by the Met Office for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (April 29 to May 1), with amber 'high' alerts for Friday and Saturday (May 2-3). The forecaster expects significant levels of airborne oak pollen in Wales. Some Plane pollen is also circulating, though these trees are mostly concentrated in southern England. Both are common cause of allergic reactions, the latter especially in urban areas. In sensitive individuals, they can exacerbate asthma. With peak hayfever season fast approaching, searches for 'pollen count' have hit an average of 33,000-a-month. This is expected to rise significantly once grass pollen becomes established as this affects an estimated 95% of Britain's 10m-plus hayfever sufferers. Recent research suggests hayfever seasons are getting longer in Britain, with climate change increasing the number of days each year when conditions are ripe for the allergy. Temperature plays an important role in pollen release, with trees shedding pollen between 13C-15C and grass between 18C-28C, according to the Met Office. The theory is that warmer temperatures caused by climate change are leading to longer growing seasons for pollen-producing plants. The result is extended periods of allergy symptoms for sufferers. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Analysis supports this, showing that Britain saw a steadily increasing number of pollen-producing days between 1994 and 2024, with southern areas worst affected. The research was carried out by Round Our Way, a not-for-profit climate change company in the UK. The organisation found that, since 1994, Wales has seen the annual pollen season lengthen by average of 19 days, the same as in Scotland. In England and northern Ireland, the figure was 20 days. Sofie Jenkinson, co-director of Round Our Way, said: 'Hayfever is becoming an almost year-round problem for sufferers in the UK. Longer hay fever seasons are just one of the health impacts Brits are facing as temperatures in the UK rise. 'As we all see around us, climate change is making Britain warmer and a lot wetter. We urgently need politicians to make sure we are better prepared for the worrying new weather we're facing and to tackle the pollution that is causing it.' Some research has shown that air pollution may make pollen grains more potent and so more likely to trigger an allergic reaction. Increased carbon dioxide levels may also enhance pollen production, making hayfever more severe. Pharmacist, Vikki Furneaux, 44, from York, believes the hayfever season is 'definitely longer and also more erratic'. She said: 'When I graduated, people took medication for around a two-month period but now they are less sure when the season is. 'Sufferers are also coming up against some of the cold and flu season and some of the symptoms are similar to hayfever, so it's more difficult to get on top of things. Some people are coming in with symptoms they didn't realise were hayfever.' For the three days until temperatures peak on Thursday (May 1), pollen levels are also expected to be 'very high' in the south and middle of England, and 'high' in northern England. Only in northern Scotland is relief possible, with levels mostly rated as 'low' this week. Counter-intuitively, a heatwave may help sufferers. The Met Office notes that pollen levels decrease if temperatures rise above 28C. If several warm days occur in a row, pollen supplies can run out altogether. UK temperatures are indeed forecast to exceed 28C this week, though probably not in Wales. For a heatwave to be officially declared in Wales, temperatures will need to exceed 25C on three successive days, which is not impossible in parts of the country this week. In the Border counties, the Met Office's three-day heatwave threshold is 26C. In London and surrounding counties, it's 28C. It can be easy to under-estimate the misery pollen brings: while a cold typically lasts for one to two weeks, hayfever can last for weeks or even months depending on pollen counts and season. Keeping an eye on the Met Office website for daily updates symptoms can help keep a lid on symptoms. Experts reckon the best time of day to get outdoors is around midday, as pollen counts are typically at their lowest. A good tip is to shower and change your clothes after being outdoors to rinse away trapped pollen. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox By the same reasoning, washing is often best dried indoors on high-pollen days as grass pollen can easily get onto clothes while drying outside. Closing windows in your house and car is another way to minimise exposure to pollen.
