Hay fever: How to cope with a 'pollen bomb' during a heatwave

What is a pollen bomb?

A pollen bomb occurs when trees and plants release millions of grains of pollen within a short period of time as a result of prolonged dry weather. Although pollen bomb isn’t an official phrase used by meteorologists, it is used to describe very high levels of pollen in the atmosphere that can worsen symptoms for hay fever sufferers.

The weather is known to affect pollen levels. When it is very dry and hot with little wind, pollen isn’t dispersed as easily, so the levels remain high and cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. Wet weather will temporarily suppress the release of pollen and cause the levels to drop.

High pollen levels are observed when there are 50 to 150 grass pollen grains in each cubic metre of air. However, people who are more sensitive to pollen may struggle with hay fever symptoms when the levels are lower.

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When do pollen levels get higher?

According to the Met Office, levels of pollen peak during the early morning and late evening¹. The grass pollen season occurs from the end of May to early August, and this affects 95% of hay fever sufferers across the UK.

Where you live can affect the severity of your symptoms too. A study published recently by researchers at the University of Manchester found people living in urban areas report significantly worse hay fever symptoms².

Professor Sheena Cruickshank, an immunologist and one of the study authors, said: “This study provides evidence that urban surroundings may exacerbate hay fever and asthma symptoms. These differences in allergy symptoms may be due to variation in the levels of pollutants, pollen counts and seasonality across land-use types.”

How to cope with a pollen bomb

If you’re struggling with hay fever, there are several steps you can take to help ease your symptoms.

When it’s hot, it is tempting to throw open the windows for a cooling breeze. However, it can be better to keep windows and doors shut as much as possible to prevent pollen from coming into your home. Plug-in fans can be a safer way to keep cool if you have hay fever.

Putting Vaseline around your nostrils can help stop pollen from going up your nose and causing irritation. Sunglasses, especially the kind that wrap around your head, can help prevent pollen from getting into your eyes.

After you’ve been outside, shower and change your clothes as they may be contaminated with pollen. Pets can also bring pollen inside too, so it can help to vacuum regularly. Vacuums with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter are more efficient in picking up pollen and dust. Air purifiers, and dusting surfaces using a damp cloth, can help clear pollen from inside your home too.

Medications can help reduce the severity of symptoms. Antihistamines block the action of histamines, chemicals your immune system releases when pollen is around. Some antihistamines may cause drowsiness. Nasal sprays and gels, as well as eye drops like sodium cromoglycate, can also provide relief for symptoms like itchy noses and eyes. You can buy these medicines from pharmacies.

Keeping checking on the weather can help too, so you can prepare for higher pollen levels. As well as information from the Met Office, apps like My Pollen Forecast can be a good way to check the levels in your area, which may tell you whether your hay fever symptoms are likely to flare up.

Further reading

1. Met Office: Pollen research to offer hope to hay fever sufferers.

2. Gledson et al: A comparison of experience sampled hay fever symptom severity across rural and urban areas of the UK.