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A Red Warning has been issued for 'pollen bomb' in London this weekend

Stock up on antihistamines – we’ve got a big sneeze coming

Caitlin Barr
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Caitlin Barr
Contributor
Bumble bee taking pollen from blossom
Photograph: Shutterstock
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There is nowhere better than London in spring - cherry blossoms are blooming, pub gardens are packed, and we’re all doing a great job of pretending there won’t be at least three more cold fronts before summer arrives. Life is good. 

Or at least, it is, if you’re not part of the unlucky 25 per cent of the population who suffer from hayfever. You’re going to be in big trouble this weekend, thanks to a massive and frankly inconsiderate ‘pollen bomb’ detonating in the capital. 

The Met Office has issued a red warning for the pollen count today, and levels will remain high across the weekend and peak again on Monday. Here’s a full rundown:

London's pollen count

  • Friday, April 4: Very High
  • Saturday, April 5: High
  • Sunday, April 6: High
  • Monday, April 7: Very High
  • Tuesday, April 8: Very High

But why are we being afflicted? 

Essentially, warmer weather, which we’ve been lapping up of late, is a trigger for trees to release their pesky pollen into the air. London tends to be warmer than many other parts of the country, plus we’re not on the coast, where pollen counts are generally less. Still, it could be worse – the leafy Home Counties like Surrey and Hertfordshire will be worse affected. 

Tree pollen typically sticks around (though not always at quite as high a level) until mid-May, when grass pollen picks up the reins and terrorises hayfever-heads until July. Grass pollen tends to affect even more people than tree pollen does, so if you’re not sneezing up a storm this weekend, you’ve not escaped. Weed pollen is present pretty much all the time, but counts peak between June and September. 

If all of this talk of pollen has you itching to drown your sorrows, we’re afraid you’ll need to put down the pint. Yes, that’s right, hayfever is exacerbated by drinking, so you can say goodbye to soaking up the sun in an overcrowded beer garden. Alcohol contains histamine, which sets off allergy reactions in the body. Basically, if you’re already allergic to pollen, drinking will only make you sneeze and itch more. Why not try a refreshing Piriteze instead (other allergy tablets are available)?

Hayfever sufferers of London, stay strong. Just five more months of this to go.

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