Flowers have blossomed, grass is growing and trees are displaying their green leaves - putting hay fever sufferers with summer allergies on alert. The condition is caused by pollen grains, which according to the Met Office are released during a season which normally runs from March to November.
High pollen levels can set off unpleasant symptoms including sneezing, a blocked nose, or itchy eyes, mouth and throat. The NHS says hay fever affects up to one in five people at some point in their life, with the proteins in pollen triggering irritation and inflammation.
Dr Lindsay Browning, neurologist, psychologist and sleep expert at bedding and mattress supplier And So To Bed, said uncomfortable hay fever can affect people's ability to get a good night's rest. “Congestion caused by allergies can greatly affect the quality of our sleep, which in turn affects our physical and mental health,” she said.
