MILLIONS are at risk of suffering a deadly asthma attack this weekend as the grass pollen season gets underway, experts warned.
Sizzling hot weather and rising pollen levels are expected across Britain on Saturday, according to forecasters.
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But the “killer” combination could leave those with asthma vulnerable to a potentially fatal attack.
Medics from Asthma UK warn that high levels of pollen in the air can “inflame” the airways and spark life-threatening symptoms for sufferers.
It comes at the start of the grass pollen season, which will peak over the next two weeks in England and Wales.
Killer combo
Dr Andy Whittamore, GP and Clinical Lead at Asthma UK, said: “The deadly combination of hot weather, widespread thunderstorms and rising levels of grass pollen this weekend could put more than 3 million people with asthma at risk of a potentially fatal asthma attack.
“When pollen is in the air it can inflame people’s airways, triggering asthma symptoms.
“Stormy weather can make it worse as it breaks the pollen into much smaller particles, which are then inhaled more deeply into the lungs.
“If you have asthma and are already noticing more symptoms because of hay fever, such as coughing, a tight chest or breathlessness, make sure you keep your blue reliever inhaler with you at all times.”
Dr Whittamore advises taking hay fever medicines and using the preventer inhaler – usually brown – as prescribed.
Grass pollen season
It is thought that more than 10 million people in Britain suffer with hay fever – and it affects around 80 per cent of people with asthma.
Grass pollen is the most common allergy and affects 90 per cent of people with hay fever, according to Allergy UK.
The season runs from mid-May until July, with two peaks – usually the first two weeks of June and the first two weeks of July.
But this can vary depending on where you are in the country and how the weather has been during spring and early summer.
Sizzling weekend weather
People could see their symptoms increase this weekend as Brits flock to the outdoors as temperatures are set to rise to a scorching 30C.
Forecasters reckon it could be the hottest day of the year so far this weekend – with the mercury rising higher than in Barcelona and Ibiza.
A spokeswoman for the Met Office said much of the country will enjoy balmy weather on Saturday – and Sunday could be even hotter.
Temperatures then are expected to reach 27C in central regions and the south east.
But the weekend of hot sunshine will only last until Monday when the mercury takes a nosedive again, the Met Office has said.
Pollen levels are also set to tail off again for much of the UK from the beginning of next week.
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