IT’S the one of the worst hay fever seasons we’ve seen in decades… but a runny nose and itchy eyes may be the least of your worries.
A constant, chesty cough along with wheezing can be a sign of deadly seasonal asthma and the “very high” pollen counts we have seen over the last week may be to blame.
Seasonal asthma refers to people who only experience asthma symptoms at certain times of the year.
The condition is no different from normal asthma – the symptoms are still the same and it’s potentially deadly if not treated properly.
You may experience tightness of the chest, wheezing, shortness of breath, difficulty sleeping because you can’t breathe and, you guessed it, constant coughing.
It can be easy to dismiss these symptoms as hay fever, but if you are taking antihistamines and they don’t seem to be working you should see a GP to be on the safe side.
If seasonal asthma is left untreated it could trigger a potentially deadly asthma attack – when the muscles in the airways constrict and cut off your breathing.
Sonia Munde of Asthma UK previously told The Sun Online: “Asthma is a long-term condition, but some people have ‘seasonal asthma’.
“This is when their symptoms are only triggered by things that are only around at certain times of year, such as pollen.
“As pollen levels are sky-high at the moment, people who find pollen triggers their asthma – including those with seasonal asthma – may be suffering at the moment.
“An estimated 3.3 million people in the UK who have asthma say their pollen allergy triggers their asthma, so they face a double whammy of symptoms.
“As well as having to deal with classic hay fever symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing and a blocked or runny nose, they’re also at risk of a life-threatening asthma attack.”
Experts say breathing in hot air can cause the airways to narrow, leading to coughing and shortness of breath.
Hot weather can also increase the amount of pollutants and mould in the air, which can cause asthma symptoms to flare up.
Dr Andy Whittamore, Clinical Lead for Asthma UK and a practising GP, said: “Humid air could spell misery for people with asthma and even trigger a potentially life-threatening asthma attack.
“It can trap pollutants and allergens like pollen, mould, dust and smoke in the air, which then cause asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and a tight chest.
“If you have asthma and are already noticing more asthma symptoms such as coughing, a tight chest or breathlessness, make sure you keep your blue reliever inhaler with you at all times.
“Take hay fever medicines to help stop the allergic reaction, use your preventer inhaler (usually brown) as prescribed to reduce the inflammation in your airways.”
It comes after Brits basked in the Saharan Bubble heatwave last week – with temperatures peaking at 35C.
But sizzling weather followed by rain has created the perfect storm of pollen – with experts warning it could prove deadly.
More than six million Brits are plagued by itchy eyes, a constant runny nose, headaches and irritating sneezes every summer.
And for half of them, deadly asthma attacks are a real threat – triggered by pollen.
Grass pollen is currently at its peak in the UK, with more than half the country predicted to be hit by the highest pollen rating possible on Sunday.
The long winter and recent rain followed by warmer weather is the “worst case scenario” for sufferers, making pollen more prevalent, experts have warned.
If you’ve been plagued with a cough lately – that might be why.
Allergens set off a chain reaction after they get into your system, and a hay fever cough is caused by a postnasal drip.
That drip happens when pollen irritates the lining of your nose – triggering your nasal passages to produce mucus.
Mucus is more watery when you’re not actually ill, and that water then trickles down the throat – causing you to try to cough it out.
So if you’re outdoors quite a bit, you might find that you’re dealing with a tickly cough.
And it can get worse at night.
During the day, you’re standing up so that the water is running downwards. At night, however, you’re lying on your back and the mucus is stuck pooled in your throat.
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