Adam Parkinson, a primary school teacher who co-hosts the Two Mr Ps in a Pod(cast), took to Instagram with a health concern from his sun lounger. Nothing was wrong – which was his problem.
He said: “Genuine question for everyone out there. I’m in Spain at the minute, the weather is obviously unreal, but why is it that I do not suffer with hay fever at all?
“I’ve not took one antihistamine since I’ve been here. Yet, at home, even if the weather’s slightly mild I’m sneezing nonstop and I’ve go the itchiest eyes in the world.”
Someone jokingly said: “[That’s a] good enough reason to live abroad in the summer”. Other commenters claimed they’ve experienced “exactly the same”.
Several people shared their theories about why hay fever can sometimes disappear when your out of the country.
One asked: “Are you near the sea? When I lived in Oslo, the house was near the sea and I never bothered with anti histamines or inhalers. Now I live in Greater Manchester, I’m a mess.”
Another person also suggested the costal area being a factor, writing: “Pollen counts tend to be lower in coastal areas due to the sea breezes carrying pollen away further inland.”
However, others claim that might not be the case. Someone said: “I live on the south east coast in England and when it’s windy or raining I’m worse!”
Another added: “I thought the same today on our Spanish holiday! Loving the ‘it’s because you’re near the coast’ responses – as if I don’t live by the sea in the UK and sneeze my face off all summer!”
A few suggested it was down to the plants aborad bieing different to those in the uk, with one sharing: “I suffer from almost debilitating hayfever but, when I lived in Cyprus, I didn’t have any and it was because the plants either didn’t produce pollen or it was by the coast! Answer is move to Spain!”
Hay fever symptoms can vary when traveling abroad due to different climates, pollen types and your overall genetics.
For most in the UK, people that suffer with hay fever are allergic to tree, weed or grass pollen. However, there are up to 30 different types of pollen across the world meaning in foreign countries you may not be exposed to what you’re facing in the UK.
According to the National Institute of Health, the most important pollens in Spain are from cypress trees from January to March, grasses, birch and olive trees from April to June, and Chenopodium and/or Salsola from July to September.
Separate research shows that olive pollen being a key offender is the case across other countries in the Mediterranean region like southern Italy, Greece and Turkey.
As most people jet off in the summer months to enjoy time abroad, it is fair to assume you’re actually missing the peak season for grass pollen problems that comes roughly around April, May and June. The issues caused by pollen are also lessened by the hot temperatures and climates that many of us flock to Mediterranean for.
According to the Met Office, temperature plays an important part in the release of pollen. You’ll likely experience high levels of grass and tree pollen in the air once thermometers reach 18C but there is a limit where things start to get better.
Their website states: “However, if the temperature rises above 28C then all pollen levels decrease. If several warm days occur in a row, then the supply of pollen can run out altogether.”