A doctor has issued advice for hay fever sufferers so they can get ahead of the uncomfortable itching and sneezing this spring. GP Helen Wall explained that while pollen levels are currently low, tree pollen is starting to go up and grass pollen is set to rise soon.

According to AllergyUK, the pollen season kicks off with tree pollen in the early spring, followed by grass pollen in early May and throughout the summer. The last season is weed pollen, which takes place throughout spring to summer, peaking in June or July.

Hay fever symptoms, including runny nose, itchy watery eyes and congestion, can be extremely uncomfortable, but the GP shared there are things you can do now to reduce your reaction when the pollen season strikes.

Speaking on BBC Morning Live, Wall said: “What we can do is start medication now so that by the time it is at its peak in March – or later in the year if you suffer from grass pollen – you will have blocked those receptors to histamine.

“What happens is your body thinks it’s dangerous. We know it isn’t dangerous, it is in the air and it doesn’t affect lots of people, but when your body thinks it’s dangerous, it releases this chemical called histamine which gives you that runny nose and watery eyes, tickly throat.

“Antihistamines – which are simple medications you can buy from most shops, supermarkets and pharmacies – will block those receptors so you will release histamines but it won’t cause that awful response which will reduce those symptoms if not eradicate them.”

Therefore, The GP advised people to start taking them between two and four weeks before the worst of their symptoms begin. She also said nasal steroid sprays can be effective at reducing symptoms, but warned that people are often not taking them properly.

She added: “If you are going to suffer really badly, often with nose and eye symptoms, then nasal steroid sprays are a really good option as well. We think that it does help with eyes as well, although we are not sure why.

“People use it wrongly. The instinct is always to tip the head back, shove it up the nose, spray and basically swallow it. It doesn’t work because it is then being swallowed and it won’t sit there.

“You need to give it a shake, put it towards the outside of the nostril, tip your head forward, spray it and then breathe normally so you are inhaling it rather than swallowing it.”