2024-04-13 09:00:40
The hay fever season started early this year. At the Elkerliek Hospital in Helmond, they use special equipment to measure how much pollen is in the air. Hay fever sufferers must take measures if they want to stay dry.
February and March were warm and therefore nature is about three weeks ahead of schedule, reports the weather institute Weeronline. The birch pollen season has already passed its peak, but the peak of grass pollen is just around the corner.
Because the month of April has also started softly. The weather institute therefore expects that the grass pollen will also be in the air three weeks earlier than normal, the expectation is early May. More and more grass species will bloom in the coming weeks.
At the Elkerliek Hospital in Helmond they are working daily to map out the current situation for hay fever patients. A device on the roof continuously sucks in air like a large vacuum cleaner.
“Start taking your medications on time. You should have started already.”
“The device contains a roll of Vaseline. The pollen is sucked into the device and collected on the roll. The pollen is viewed and counted in the lab,” explains researcher Amer Hasanovic.
Once it is clear how much and which pollen is floating in the air, all information is collected in the hospital’s pollen news. There, hay fever patients can see whether they should stay indoors.
Mieke Koenders is a hay fever specialist at the Elkerliek Hospital. She has tips to combat complaints: “Start taking your medication on time, or actually you should have started already. It is best to start taking medication before the season starts. Wear sunglasses to prevent pollen from getting into your eyes. Apply Vaseline under your nose so that the pollen sticks to it and does not get into your nose.”
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