Consider closing your windows when pollen levels are high (Image: Alamy/PA)
With the dreaded hay fever season looming, many Britons are already stocking up on tissues and eye drops in preparation. We consulted several GPs to discover what measures can be taken now to stay ahead of increasing pollen levels, hopefully preventing weeks of sneezing, streaming eyes and persistent sniffles.
What is hay fever?
“The medical term for hay fever is allergic rhinitis and essentially it’s an immune response to when your body is exposed to an irritant or allergen in the environment, most likely pollen,” says Dr Naveed Asif, GP at The London General Practice. “When people inhale or ingest it through their nose or mouth, the body doesn’t know what to do with it so it elicits an immune response and produces antibodies to try and fight…