Hay Fever misery not to be sneezed at

Grass in summer

The full misery of surviving summer in Britain with hay fever has been revealed – leaving exhausted sufferers stuck indoors with the doors and windows shut.

The condition means more than a third (37%) of hay fever sufferers in the north west are forced to stay indoors for the summer, while 42% avoid outdoor sports and 55% are unable to do any gardening.

With an estimated 18m hay fever sufferers in the UK, more than seven in ten (72%) of those surveyed in the north west endure sleepless nights, the second highest figure in the country after London.

The survey, carried out by Atomik Research for ASDA Pharmacy, revealed that, for hay fever sufferers in the north west:

• Eight in ten (80%) say they never research pollen levels when going on holiday
• Nearly three quarters (71%) said others do not understand their condition.
• Over a third (37%) are forced to spend the whole summer with the windows and doors shut to keep pollen out
• Over half (55%) of hay fever sufferers say they have more than three nights of disturbed sleep each week.
• Forty-three per cent find runny noses, itchy eyes and a persistent cough mean they struggle to concentrate at work.

Hay fever sufferers in the north west are a hardy lot – just 15% have found it necessary to take time off work because of their condition.

Over a quarter (26%) say their condition makes it difficult to enjoy the summer sun with their children.

ASDA Pharmacist Maq Din said: “There is currently no cure for hay fever and you can’t prevent it but you can do things to ease your symptoms when the pollen count is high.

“Staying cooped up inside is not a realistic way of living your life and avoiding hay fever symptoms but there are a few steps you can take to keep yourself protected if you’re venturing outdoors.

“These can include eye drops and nasal sprays, something as simple as wearing wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes and showering or changing your clothes after you’ve been outside to wash off the pollen.”