If you suffer from hay fever or know someone who does, you’ll no doubt be aware that the pollen count is high right now.

Aside from certain parts of Scotland, the UK is currently covered in a blanket of high or very high pollen counts, with grass being the biggest contributor.

From red, itchy eyes to a blocked, runny nose, the common symptoms of hay fever are well known, and there are plenty of tips and hacks out there to help sufferers deal with the frustrating side effects of seasonal allergies.

But alongside the more common symptoms, there are some other, more unusual ones that many of us aren’t aware are signs of hay fever, explains Rumeet Patel, a pharmacist at Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor.  

While common hay fever treatments such as antihistamines should still help with many of these symptoms (as the medication tackles the allergic reaction itself, rather than a specific symptom), understanding which of your symptoms are signs of seasonal allergies will put you in a better position to manage them.

So, without further ado, keep reading to find out about five unusual hay fever symptoms you should keep an eye out for this summer, including why they occur. 

Hot weather and high pollen counts often come hand in hand, but if you’re sweating a lot, it could be a sign of hay fever rather than heat exposure.

“Sweating more than usual can be a symptom of hay fever,” Patel explains. “Excessive sweating can be caused by stress, pain or when your immune system is vulnerable – all factors which can occur in hay fever.” 

A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste is one of the key symptoms of Covid-19, so you should always take precautions and test where necessary if you suspect you may have been infected or have other common symptoms, such as a high temperature or a new, continuous cough.

However, if you don’t have Covid-19, then hay fever may be the cause.

“Although less common, loss of smell can be a symptom of hay fever,” Patel says. “Also known as anosmia, inflammation in the nasal passages can impact our sense of smell. This is the body’s way of limiting the amount of pollen that reaches the nose.

“As taste and smell are linked, if you experience anosmia, you are also likely to notice some loss of taste too.” 

Hot weather and high humidity can both cause an increase in headaches, but so too can hay fever. This is because of two key reasons.  

Patel explains: “Sinus inflammation can cause a build-up of pressure that results in a sinus headache. This tends to feel as if there is intense pressure inside the head or behind the eyes.

“The histamines released during a hay fever account can also give rise to migraines.” 

The increased pressure in the head and sinuses that commonly comes with hay fever can also lead to facial pain, Patel says.

“Many people don’t realise that hay fever can cause pain around the cheeks, eyes and forehead. When you have hay fever, the small air-filled cavities behind the cheekbones and forehead can become inflamed or blocked. This pressure can cause facial pain.” 

Last, but by no means least, hay fever can trigger something known as seasonal asthma – an occurrence of asthmatic symptoms triggered by allergens that emerge during a specific time of year, like summer.

It can also worsen asthma symptoms in those who deal with it all year round. 

“If you have asthma, you may find hay fever worsens symptoms like wheezing and breathlessness,” Patel says. “In fact, some people also find they only experience asthma symptoms during hay fever season, and people with hay fever are also much more likely to develop asthma.”

For more information on dealing with asthma and seasonal allergies you can check out our guide or visit the NHS website.  

Images: Getty