- By Cecilia Daly
- BBC News NI weather condition speaker
Let’s pretend that it’s the weekend and I’m forecasting warm, dry warm weather condition with a mild breeze.
This might seem like terrific news. Everyone’s smiling and preparing time in the garden, with perhaps a barbecue or a walk in the countryside prepared.
Well, for roughly 20% of the population, it is not terrific news.
People who struggle with pollen-related allergic reactions, such as hay fever, might need to resign themselves to a weekend invested inside your home.
And the hay fever season has actually gotten here.
How does pollen impact us?
The pollen is soaked up into the nasal passage, eyes or mouth.
This triggers the body immune system to produce chemicals called histamines, which can then trigger swelling and itching.
Antihistamines and steroids are frequently recommended to minimize this procedure.
Debbie has actually been a pharmacist for over ten years and struggles with hay fever herself.
She said pharmacists tend to see a boost in individuals entering the chemist from April, with bouts of sneezing, smelling, coughing and wheezing.
But it can start much earlier if March has actually been warm and dry.
People can establish hay fever at any phase of their life, and they can likewise outgrow it.
It comes from the very same family as asthma and eczema, so individuals with a hereditary link to either of these might be more inclined to getting hay fever.
In some cases, patients might not have the ability to dry clothing outdoors as the pollen can get caught in the product.
Sufferers might likewise need to use wrap-around sunglasses to stop the pollen coming up to the eyes, and use Vaseline around the nostrils to produce a barrier to stop the pollen going into the nose.
Pollen can likewise get caught in somebody’s hair or an animal’s fur.
Does this mean no time at all in the garden?
Olivia Kirk is a knowledgeable landscape and garden designer who specialises in developing recovery gardens.
She said it is absolutely possible to have a quite, vibrant garden that is low in irritants.
Pollen levels appear to have actually increased suddenly due to the fact that the recent cold, wet weather condition reduced the early pollen, she thinks.
Very couple of locations have actually experienced 20C (67F) throughout the UK and Ireland, and May is the last month of Meteorological spring.
But now that it is heating up, whatever is beginning to flower at the very same time – which might result in a double whammy of pollen in the air.
Tree pollen, which is what we presently have, is extremely light and is quickly brought by the wind.
It is extremely little and is brought in to the eyes, nose and mouth, however cold, wet weather condition will hinder this.
In basic, pollen production can be more considerable in a warm and wet spring, and early summertime.
This would then require to be launched in breezy and dry conditions to produce the most considerable effects.
Flowers pollinated by bugs is much heavier and stickier so does not take a trip as quickly, and therefore tends to fall on the ground.
Male pollen is the issue, and yes, there are male and female variations of lots of trees and plants.
Female trees produce fruit and nuts after they flower and drop them on the ground.
But male trees do not drop, and for some garden enthusiasts, are considered to be tidier.
But they are building the irritants which are then distributed in the air in addition to other toxins.
Later in the year, we have lawn pollen which usually lasts from mid-May up until July.
Weed pollen then ends up being more common and takes us into early fall.
But Ms Kirk said the season has actually now expanded and this is, in part, down to our warming environment.
Cutting lawn later on into the fall likewise extends the hay fever season as most of patients dislike lawn pollen.
So a moderate spring, warm dry summertime and a moderate fall is bad news for those.
What does a hay fever friendly garden appear like?
The recommendations is to plant fruit trees and flowers that bees like.
Trees such as pear, apple and cherry bloom are great in addition to roses, tubular flowers such as daffodils, foxgloves, tulips and many dahlias.
Pollen projections are now available from the UK Met Office and Met Éireann in combination with the University of Worcester (NPARU).
When is the very best time to go outdoors with hay fever?
The very first thing to do is determine the kind of pollen you dislike and after that keep an eye on the pollen projections.
If it is high, pollen levels tend to peak at the start and end of the day.
On a warm day the pollen can be brought high into the environment prior to it falls to lower levels as temperature levels drop in the night.
So the middle of the day may be the very best time to go outdoors, depending upon your level of sensitivity.