Guidance

Prevention and coping with allergen symptoms

This page contains information for coping with illness caused by airborne allergens like hay fever, asthma and allergies.

From:
UK Health Security Agency and Centre for Climate and Health Security
Published
7 August 2025

Applies to England

CCHS navigation menu:
CCHS homepage
Topic: environmental exposures
Air-related exposure: airborne allergens
Part of: The Health Risks of Airborne Allergens

Key resources for prevention and coping with airborne allergens:

Treating hay fever symptoms

Preventative antihistamine tablets and other treatments are designed to be used at the first signs of hay fever symptoms. It’s worth noting that older types of antihistamines can cause drowsiness. Allergen barrier nasal sprays and gels are another treatment which help treat hay fever within minutes (1).

Symptoms can also be managed by the following measures, which are available on the met office website:

  • remove outdoor clothing and shower or wash your hair following high pollen exposure 
    close windows at night 

  • vacuum regularly, preferably with a high-efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) filter in place 

  • avoid keeping flowers in the house

  • avoid drying washing outdoors when the pollen count is high or when cutting the grass, as this can bring pollen into the house

  • avoid walking in grassy, open spaces, particularly during the early morning and early evening 

  • check the weather forecast for information about pollen count levels and avoid going outdoors when the pollen count is ‘Medium’ or ‘High’ 

  • install pollen filters in your car if they are not already fitted 

  • drive with windows closed 

  • consider wearing wrap-around sunglasses to stop pollen getting in your eyes when outdoors 

For the latest pollen forecast, download the Met office weather app and turn on your pollen notification for daily updates.

Policies that could impact hay fever

The UK’s target to become net zero by 2050 (2) includes the zero emission vehicle mandate which states that by 2035 100% of new cars and vans sold in Great Britain will have to be zero emission vehicles. Air pollutants interact with pollen grains in several ways to make them more allergenic and able to penetrate into the lower respiratory tract when inhaled (3). Policies like the zero emission vehicle mandate could therefore have a positive impact on those who suffer from airborne allergens.

References

  1. Met Office, ‘Surviving hay fever: A guide for sufferers’ (Viewed 10 March 2025)

  2. Department for Transport, Office for Zero Emission Vehicles and Anthony Browne, ‘Pathway for zero emission vehicle transition by 2035 becomes law - GOV.UK’, 2024 (Viewed 9th May 2025)

  3. Sedghy F, Varasteh AR, Sankian M, Moghadam M, ‘Interaction Between Air Pollutants and Pollen Grains: The Role on the Rising Trend in Allergy’ Reports of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2018: Volume 6(2) pages 219-224 (Viewed 20 March 2025)

Updates to this page

Published 7 August 2025

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