01 Jun New research reveals how badly East of England hay fever sufferers are affected
Hay fever sufferers will see their symptoms get worse this week as the grass pollen count begins to rise.
New research paints a bleak picture of this debilitating condition and champion athlete Colin Jackson, who dropped a promising cricket career because his hay fever was so bad, tells how it makes him want to ‘dig his eyes out’.
The condition means 44% of sufferers in the East of England no longer enjoy summer, 31% do not play outdoor sports and 28% are forced to stay indoors with over five in ten (54%) struggling to do any gardening.
With an estimated 18m hay fever sufferers in the UK, over four in ten (43%) of sufferers in the East having sleepless nights and 60% having as many as four disturbed nights a week
Double World Champion hurdler Colin Jackson, who had to drop a promising cricket career because of hay fever said: “Hay fever is awful.
“You don’t want to be outdoors – at the best time of year to be outdoors – sleep is a pain because you can’t open the windows at night and your eyes are so itchy you want to dig them out, wash them and put them back in.”
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen, typically when it comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes and throat.
