More People Suffering From Hay Fever In The Next 20 Years

The number of people who suffer from hay fever could reach an estimated figure of 30 million in the next 20 years. This was reported in the Hay Fever Health Report 2010 which was commissioned by Kleenex. Hay fever rates may triple between now and 2030. One of the reasons contributing to this is the increase of people moving to the cities resulting in more allergies as pollution from traffic and industries irritate people's airways.

So if you have suffer frequently from hay fever, you might like to move to a less polluted area to stop your runny nose.

In the UK, big cities like London and Birmingham could see about 45% of the population affected. Coastal towns and cities suffer less with the sea breeze reducing the effect of pollution. Current estimates suggest one in five suffer from hay fever.

Stress increases hay fever symptoms
The report also found that the more stressed a person feels the more likely they are to have more severe symptoms.The author of the report, Professor Jean Emberlin, director of National Pollen and Aerobiology Research unit at the University of Worchester said that although pollen count in th city is lower than in the countryside, hat fever rates are higher in urban areas. The reason is the higher air pollution. Vehicle exhaust pollutants affect the respiratory tracts making the hay fever symptoms worse. Faster pace of life leads to higher stress levels making people more susceptible to allergies.

Having a less stressful life will certainly help as a remedy for a runny nose.

Climate change also affect the pollen seasons making them longer and more severe.

Courtesy of The UK Telegraph