IT’S one of the worst hay fever seasons we have seen in decades… But a runny nose and itchy eyes can be the least of your worries.
A consistent, chesty cough along with wheezing may be a sign of deadly seasonal asthma and the “very excessive” pollen counts we’ve seen over the past week can be in charge.
Seasonal asthma refers to folks that most effective enjoy asthma signs at sure instances of the yr.
The situation is no different from regular allergies – the signs are nevertheless the identical and it is potentially lethal if not handled nicely.
You can also revel in the tightness of the chest, wheezing, shortness of breath, issue drowsing because you can not breathe and, you guessed it, constant coughing.
It may be clean to push aside those symptoms as hay fever, but in case you are taking antihistamines and they don’t appear to be running you must see a GP to be at the safe facet.
If seasonal bronchial asthma is left untreated it is able to trigger a doubtlessly lethal bronchial asthma attack – while the muscle groups in the airways constrict and reduce off your respiration.
Double whammy
Sonia Munde of Asthma UK previously advised The Sun Online: “Asthma is an extended-time period condition, however, a few human beings have ‘seasonal bronchial asthma’.
“This is when their signs and symptoms are handiest brought about by means of things that are handiest round at positive instances of year, consisting of pollen.
“As pollen tiers are sky-excessive in the meanwhile, individuals who find pollen triggers their asthma – inclusive of those with seasonal allergies – may be struggling at the moment.
“An anticipated three. Three million humans in the UK who’ve bronchial asthma say their pollen allergy triggers their allergies so that they face a double whammy of symptoms.
“As well as having to cope with classic hay fever signs such as itchy eyes, sneezing, and a blocked or runny nose, they’re also prone to a existence-threatening bronchial asthma assault.”
Hot air
Experts say inhaling warm air can motive the airlines to slender, leading to coughing and shortness of breath.
Hot weather can also boom the amount of pollution and mold within the air, which could motive bronchial asthma symptoms to flare up.
Dr. Andy Whittamore, Clinical Lead for Asthma UK and working towards GP, stated: “Humid air may want to spell misery for people with bronchial asthma and even trigger a potentially existence-threatening asthma assault.
“It can trap pollutants and allergens like pollen, mold, dirt, and smoke inside the air, which then purpose asthma symptoms which include coughing, wheezing and a good chest.
“If you’ve got allergies and are already noticing more bronchial asthma signs which include coughing, a good chest or breathlessness, ensure you maintain your blue reliever inhaler with you at all times.
“Take hay fever medicines to help forestall the allergy, use your preventer inhaler (commonly brown) as prescribed to reduce the irritation in your airways.”
Saharan heat bubble
It comes after Brits basked in the Saharan Bubble heatwave remaining week – with temperatures peaking at 35C.
But scorching weather accompanied through rain has created the right typhoon of pollen – with professionals caution it may prove deadly.
More than six million Brits are plagued with the aid of itchy eyes, a constant runny nose, headaches, and traumatic sneezes each summer time.
And for half of them, lethal bronchial asthma assaults are an actual hazard – brought on by pollen.
Grass pollen is currently at its top within the UK, with greater than half of the united states predicted to be hit through the very best pollen score viable on Sunday.
The lengthy winter and current rain observed with the aid of hotter weather is the “worst case situation” for patients, making pollen greater universal, experts have warned.
Hay fever cough
If you’ve been plagued with a cough recently – that might be why.
Allergens set off a chain response after they get into your gadget, and a hay fever cough is as a result of a postnasal drip.
That drip happens while pollen irritates the lining of your nostril – triggering your nasal passages to supply mucus.
Mucus is more watery whilst you’re now not certainly ill, and that water then trickles down the throat – causing you to try and cough it out.
