Spring heatwave and volcanic ash cloud triggers early misery for hayfever sufferers

Online, May 5, 2010 (Newswire.com) - The hayfever season has begun at least six weeks earlier than normal, with many people suffering symptoms for the first time this year.

Chemistdirect.co.uk, the UK's leading online chemist, has seen a 50% rise in orders for hayfever tablets compared to this point last year, with sales over the last week already reaching levels usually recorded at the beginning of June.

"The recent spell of warm weather across the UK has triggered an early start to this year's hayfever season," said Krishna Soma, a pharmacist at Chemistdirect.co.uk.

"Although the main culprit is pollen released from grass and trees, we're also being contacted by customers who have never had hayfever until this year or whose symptoms are worse than normal, and many are blaming the recent ash cloud which has covered the country. It's certainly possible that some people could be irritated by the dust," she added.

Last week the Health Protection Agency warned that people may suffer from itchy irritated eyes and runny noses because of the volcanic ash spewed out by the Eyjafjallajokull volcano; this has compounded the misery for hayfever sufferers.

According to the Met office, ash from the volcano has fallen across the UK, from the Shetland Islands to Kent, and a thin layer was also observed in monitoring stations near Leeds, Stoke on Trent and Peterborough.

Hayfever is traditionally caused when cells on the nose and eyes release histamine and other chemicals when they come in contact with pollen. This causes inflammation in the nose and eyes. Chemistdirect.co.uk has a range of Hayfever remedies on offer at highly reduced prices compared to the high street.

Chemistdirect.co.uk was launched in December 2007 by entrepreneur Mitesh Soma and his pharmacist wife Krishna, to provide customers with low cost health and beauty products. It was recently ranked number one online Chemist by Hitwise*, the internet specialists, and is the current CBI Young Company of the Year. For more information contact: [email protected] / 0208 834 1811