Spring has sprung, the days are getting longer, daffodils are blooming and many of us are hoping for a beautiful summer. But for the millions of hay fever sufferers in the UK, the season of sneezing, runny noses and itchy eyes is just around the corner, and for many, this range of debilitating symptoms can have a very real impact on everyday life.
Seasonal allergic rhinitis, or “hay fever” occurs when your body identifies pollen as a threat and launches an inappropriate immune response to this normally harmless substance. While hay fever frequently begins at a young age, it can affect both adults and children, affecting an estimated 10-15% of children and 26% of adults in the UK – equating to around 16 million of us – with a 2020 study suggesting that the figure could actually be as high as 49% of adults.1,2
Last updated on 3rd January 2024 by cytoffice