Planning a holiday getaway in the UK this summer?  With the kids on school holidays, and the weather this month being pretty good so far, it’s tempting to pack up the car and head for the sunshine.  But, if you are suffering from the dreaded summer hay fever, are parts of the country going to to see you sneezing more than others?sneezing,young,girl,with,nose,wiper,among,blooming,trees,in

A city break could be out of the question as high levels of pollution can, quite literally, really get up your nose! In fact, the top 10 hay fever hotspots in Britain are as follows:

1. London

2. Birmingham

3. Manchester

4. Cambridge

5. Leicester

6. Leeds

7. Reading

8. Liverpool

9. Edinburgh

10. Brighton

Research by the Surrey Allergy Clinic in London has also shown that in urban areas, pollens attach to the diesel exhaust particles from cars, which are adept at carrying pollen deeper into the airways or attaching to nasal membranes. This means busy, car-heavy cities could make your condition feel so much worse.

Heading to the beach may offer you some welcome respite, but you should probably avoid very busy beaches or built up areas (like Brighton for example).

Of course, the open countryside could also have you running to the tissues as the plethora of grasses and plants set off allergies that could be confused with hay fever, but may in fact be something else entirely.  Experts at the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit said that a cold spring like the one we had this year makes for delayed tree pollen which could be in the air at the same time as grass pollen.

So, how do you deal with hay fever during your summer holiday.  Well, by now you have probably found some ways and means to help calm the itching and sneezing, but when going away with the family keep these top tips in mind:

  1. Use you cars air condition system.  This will trap pollen in its filters, but make sure you keep those windows closed.

  2. Keep your sunglasses to hand to act as a physical guard against pollen around the sensitive eye area. Wear wraparound types if you can.

  3. Drink plenty of water.  The body produces more histamine when you’re ­dehydrated, meaning an increase in hay fever symptoms. Drinking water also thins mucous and drains the nasal passages.

  4. Leave the perfume at home. Strong smells can trigger a hay fever attack, so chose fragrance free suntan lotions and other holiday potions.
  5. Finally – head for the beach. Pollen counts are lower on the beach than inland, so consider a break to the seaside if the count to head off those nasty symptoms.

Whatever you are doing this summer, we hope you enjoy it.  Of course, you could speak to us about effective and long-lasting treatments we offer for hay fever and allergy sufferers of all kinds.  Call us today on (0)203 865 7225 to find out more about us.