People with five symptoms advised to wear face masks by BBC expert

NHS GP and BBC Morning Live‘s resident doctor, Dr Punam Krishan, has issued face mask advice for anyone who experiences several symptoms this spring. Speaking on today’s (26 March) episode of the daytime talk show, she said wearing face masks can really help those who are struggling with the symptoms.

The advice comes as the doctor told viewers how the surgery she works at has been “so busy” lately as there are “lots of different things that are going around”. One common medical condition she says is very common right now is hay fever.

She explained: “I’ve been seeing so many patients coming in, actually, from as early as February with hay fever. It’s earlier than we normally have, and that’s because we had a very mild winter; even though we don’t feel that way, it was a milder winter.

“And what happens with that is, it triggers higher pollen counts earlier, which is what we’ve been seeing”. She then listed five common symptoms of hay fever, including itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, feeling congested and feel “quite fatigued”.

In the UK, pollen comes in three seasons: tree pollen in early spring, grass pollen in late spring and summer, and weed pollen in late summer and autumn. The main triggers are birch, oak, and ash trees from March to June, grass from May to July, and weeds such as nettles and mugwort from June to September.

Commenting on the recent surge in hay fever cases, she said: “So a lot of patients have been coming in and going, ‘Gosh, I’ve just not been able to clear this cold for weeks’, and actually it’s not been a cold at all, it’s been hay fever. But at this time, at the moment with the season changing, kids starting nursery, we are seeing a lot of that going around.”

To prevent pollen from entering your system, Dr Punam suggested several measures sufferers can adopt to alleviate symptoms. One such recommendation was the use of face masks.

She stated: “If you’re particularly sensitive and susceptible, face masks are great for just stopping pollen from getting into your airways.” According to Allergy UK, masks prevent pollen from entering your nose and mouth. They also warm and humidify the air, which can help your nose react less to allergens.

Research indicates that surgical and N95 masks can lessen allergy symptoms when outdoors, especially during periods of high pollen count. While masks are not a cure and won’t eradicate all symptoms, particularly for those suffering from eye-related allergies, they are an effective, low-cost method for managing seasonal allergies.

Offering further advice, Dr Punam said: “Check the weather forecast, it tells you when the pollen counts are high. Keep your windows closed to stop pollen from getting into the house. Before you leave, take your sunglasses with you to stop it getting into your eyes.

“Petroleum jelly under the eyes, around the nostrils. I do that for my wee boy, it works a treat. It basically means that pollen sticks to that before it gets into the system. When you get into the house, pollen is everywhere. It’s on your hair. Take off your clothes, put them in the washing machine, and have a shower.”

What are the symptoms of hay fever and how long does it last?

The NHS says: “Hay fever is a common allergy that causes sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes. You cannot cure it, but there are things you can do to help your symptoms, or medicines you can take to help.” Symptoms of hay fever include:

• sneezing and coughing
• a runny or blocked nose
• itchy, red or watery eyes
• itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
• loss of smell
• pain around the sides of your head and your forehead
• headache
• feeling tired

The health service adds: “Symptoms are usually worse between late March and September, especially when it’s warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is at its highest. Hay fever can last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after one to two weeks.”