Expert says common car mistake could be making hay fever much worse

Hay fever sufferers may find themselves having a bad week this week as forecasters have warned of very high pollen levels.

As the weather warms up, with temperatures hitting as high as 30C in some areas of the UK, the Met Office expects high levels of pollen, which will be bad news for a lot of people. Hay fever is a very common condition caused by an allergic reaction to pollen.

People suffering with hay fever may find themselves sneezing a lot, coughing and getting itchy eyes. Unfortunately there's no cure, but there are things you can do to help your symptoms.

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Experts are urging drivers to be aware of what they can do to help their symptoms while in the car, as driving can be an uncomfortable experience for people with pollen allergies.

Ali Ingram-Seal, a motoring expert with Saga, says one thing people often overlook is the pollen filter in their car, which is often missed during a service.

Ali says they can play a crucial role in assisting drivers with symptoms. "Most modern vehicles are fitted with pollen filters which prevent potential allergens from entering the cabin when the air conditioning is being used," Ali said. "However, these filters tend to become clogged and inefficient over time and are rarely replaced."

Explaining how to spot when your filter might need changing, Ali said: "Poor airflow from the aircon unit is the biggest indicator. Drivers then often resort to opening their windows instead on a warm day which only exacerbates hay fever symptoms."

She added: Another telltale sign that the filter needs replacing is a bad smell coming from the aircon as bacteria and fungi buildup in old filters which can lead to unpleasant odours.”

Ali said drivers should aim to get their pollen filter replaced at a garage "every 12,000 to 15,000 miles or once every two years, depending on which comes first".

Using recirculated air in your vehicle may also help your symptoms. Ali said: "Car air conditioning systems usually have a recirculation button with a circular arrow inside an image of a car. When activated, this button changes the aircon system from pulling in air from the outside to recirculating the air already in the car's interior.

"This feature is particularly useful for those who suffer from hay fever, as the recirculation mode prevents pollen from entering the car through the aircon system. It also preserves the car's pollen filters since they won't be needed to filter the air."

According to the Met Office, the pollen count level is expected to be 'Very High' in the North West on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday this week.

Hay fever is usually at its worst between March and September when the pollen count is at its highest and the weather can be warm, windy and humid.

NHS England said the hay fever section of the NHS website had been visited on average 11,736 times per day last week, compared to a daily average of 4,749 visits the week before.