‘Thunderstorm’ warning for millions of hay fever and asthma sufferers this week

Pollen-infested Britain could face another wave of “thunderstorm” this weekend, and the nation is invited to prepare for the storms after enjoying the hottest June on record.

Analysts with the Office have predicted very high pollen levels at least until Friday, prompting experts to warn that the 16 million hay fever victims in the UK will face their worst misery “so far this year”.

Meanwhile, charities have warned asthmatics of the potential dangers, as pollen is a known trigger of seizures in about 60 percent of patients.

Heat is another major cause of exacerbations for the 8 million asthmatics in the UK. The UK could experience a 35 degree heatwave in the next few days, making it hotter than Jamaica and Hawaii.

However, after very high temperatures, thunderstorms are expected. They can see thousands of people battling thunder fever, a phenomenon that makes people more susceptible to severe hay fever and asthma symptoms.

Asthma + Lung UK warned that such high pollen levels could be “fatal” for patients who might suffer the “scary” attacks.

By Wednesday, pollen levels will be high in all parts of England and Wales except the North East, while Northern Ireland levels will also be high.

Pollen levels have remained very high across most of England across Wales for the fourth day in a row since Tuesday, while levels have averaged in parts of Scotland.

Thunder fever refers to a phenomenon where people can experience severe symptoms of hay fever or asthma during high pollen counts and thunderstorms.

The winds created by the storm collect more pollen grains and fungal spores, which are then carried through the air, according to one main theory to explain the situation.

When pollen comes into contact with water carried in moist air, it swells and breaks up into smaller particles.

These can run deeper into the airways and potentially cause seizures or worsening symptoms.

Many patients with both conditions suffered thunderstorms last week due to high winds caused by ancient tropical storm Alex.

Asthma + Lung UK Head of Health Consulting Emma Rubach said people with lung problems should be more careful in the coming days.

When pollen is at its peak, it can be deadly for people with asthma. “Hay fever can trigger asthma symptoms and increase the risk of a potentially life-threatening asthma attack.”

Asthma attacks can be scary, but there are things you can do to take care of yourself.

“It is very important to use preventer inhalers every day as prescribed, as the medication reduces inflammation in the airways and helps prevent symptoms such as wheezing and coughing before they start.”

The charity also advises people to carry a respirator with them at all times, also take steroid nasal sprays and antihistamines daily to reduce allergic reaction, and get outside as much as possible during very high pollen counts. . . . at dawn.

Hay fever sufferers are advised to wear a mask, sunglasses and a large hat to keep pollen out of their eyes and face.

Other tips include using hay fever remedies, showering when you get home, keeping windows closed in the morning and early evening when pollen levels are particularly high, gardening, hanging laundry outside, and wiping with a damp cloth when pets enter.

Max Wiseberg, manufacturer of HayMax, an anti-allergy product, said: “In most of England and Wales, pollen forecasts for the next four days are very high – the worst this year so far.”

Weather modeling predicts a rise in mercury by Friday before thunderstorms over the weekend, senior meteorologist at British Weather Services Jim Dale said.

“Friday will probably be the hottest day,” he said. “Forecast models agree that there was a rapid collapse after the brief peak of intense heat that brought the storms.”

GOOGLE TREND: The number of Brits searching Google for hay fever has increased in recent years, reaching an all-time high in 2021. The numbers represent search interest relative to the highest point on the chart. A value of 100 is the peak of popularity, and a 0 means there aren’t enough people looking for hay fever at the time.

This morning will be a hot week for London, a man dives into The Serpentine in Hyde Park.

The Brits have already documented their distress on social media, and many claim they have had hay fever for the first time in years or have never had it at all.

No one knows exactly why hay fever suddenly appeared, but there are a number of theories.

An idea known as the “hygienic hypothesis” is that our immune systems are more sensitive to allergens like pollen because we are exposed to fewer germs.

It’s “reasonable” that the lack of social contact and working from home during the pandemic has further weakened our bodiesAccording to Professor Paul Hunter, a medical expert at the University of East Anglia.

He highlighted that in recent months there has been an increase in “super colds” from the pandemic as people have a weaker immunity to common infections.

Another theory is that higher temperatures in the UK caused by global warming are prolonging our summers and prolonging pollen release time.

This not only prolongs the duration of symptoms, but also increases people’s exposure time, says Margaret Kelman, clinical director of Allergy UK.

“We know that warmer temperatures change vegetation growth patterns and contribute to earlier and longer pollen seasons,” he told MailOnline.

He added that this “leads to more intense pollen seasons, and that increased air pollution and higher carbon dioxide levels may contribute to worsening allergy symptoms in sensitive individuals.”

Almost half of the British population struggles with the condition, almost double what was previously thought, according to a survey last year.

Hay fever was previously estimated to affect 13 million people in the UK, or 30% of the population.

The warnings come as a heatwave is expected to hit the UK in the next few days, with some parts reaching 35C (95F) by Friday.

After a windy weekend for many, a constantly northward-moving hot air cloud from sunny Spain will see the warmer parts of England warmer than Portugal, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Hawaii, the Canary Islands and Cyprus.

And Friday will be the UK’s hottest June day since logging began as temperatures soar above 96.1F (35.6C) – a figure recorded in London on 29 June 1957 and Southampton on 28 June 1976. figure.

While it won’t be beach weather wherever southern England experiences its hottest days, the Midlands and northern areas are also expected to see temperatures well into the mid-20s (-70°F maximum).