Health
Met Office issues rare red warning for hayfever sufferers as pollen count will be ‘very high’
The Met Office has issued a rare red alert for hayfever sufferers across the UK, warning that the pollen count will be “very high”.
Millions of people should prepare themselves for a sneezing frenzy, as four different regions have been placed under high alert.
On April 4, London & South East England, South West England, and the West Midlands will see “very high birch and ash pollen”.
The warning continues tomorrow for the South West, and whilst no red alerts are in place for April 6, the next two days will see four different regions impacted.
Pollen forecast for April 7
Met Office
London and South East England, South West England, West Midlands, and Wales – that have a combined population of 27 million – will see high pollen counts as the week begins.
Tree pollen, which is one of the most potent allergens, is prevalent from around now until mid-May.
After birch pollen season ends, grass pollen – UK hayfever suffers’ number one enemy – takes over from mid-May to July.
The Met Office compiles data to produce forecasts for five days for the whole of the UK. The alerts range from low to very high.
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Tree pollen, which is one of the most potent allergens, is prevalent from around now until mid-May
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The NHS says symptoms of hayfever include: “Sneezing and coughing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy, red or watery eyes, itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears, loss of smell, pain around the sides of your head and your forehead, headache and feeling tired.”
Whilst there is no cure for hayfever, some ways to to alleviate the discomfort recommended by the NHS include – putting Vaseline around your nostrils, keep windows and doors shut, shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off.
Airborne allergens expert Max Wiseberg said: “Warm, dry and sunny weather are perfect conditions for trees to distribute their pollen. And as April is peak tree pollen season, the warm weather predicted for this week is set to trigger a huge pollen explosion across the London and South East region – not good news for the average hayfever sufferer.”
“Around 25 per cent of hayfever sufferers are allergic to tree pollen,” he added, “and for them the peak hayfever season is about to start, with a vengeance.
Weather maps will turn orange today, making the UK hotter than Athens and Ibiza
Met Office
“We had a taster a couple of weeks ago with high pollen counts in the capital. And with the weather forecast to continue the same into next week, these ‘high’s are set to continue.”
The warning coincides with temperatures hitting their highest this year so far, with a mercury of 22C expected later today.
The UK will be hotter than Athens and Ibiza today, with temperatures of 20C respectively.
The delightful spring conditions will see most of the country enjoying fine weather well into the weekend.
Manchester has been crowned Britain’s healthiest city in new research as an impressive 72 per cent of residents maintaining physically active lifestyles.
The comprehensive study by Drug Testing Kits UK awarded Manchester an immaculate Wellbeing Environment Score of 100 out of 100, placing it at the top of rankings across 30 UK cities.
The northern powerhouse achieved its leading position despite 32 per cent of its population being classified as obese and 17 per cent identifying as smokers.
Manchester’s success stems from excellent access to gyms, healthy restaurants, and green spaces, which researchers found helps balance out existing health risks.
Manchester’s success stems from excellent access to gyms, healthy restaurants, and green spaces
GETTY
Belfast secured second place with a score of 98, boasting even higher physical activity levels at 75 per cent of adults staying active and a superior obesity rate of just 27 per cent.
Meanwhile the Northern Irish capital also recorded the cleanest air quality in the study with a score of 33.
Popular tourist hotspot Plymouth claimed third position with a score of 95, maintaining 60 per cent of adults in active lifestyles and a smoking rate of 16 per cent.
However, the seaside city’s 29 per cent obesity rate provides a solid foundation for further public health improvements.
Oxford ranked fourth with a score of 94, distinguished by the lowest smoking rate in the entire UK at just seven per cent of adults.
The university city matched Manchester’s impressive 72 per cent physical activity rate, although almost half (49 per cent) of residents are currently classified as obese.
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Bristol completed the top five with a score of 87, leading all cities in physical activity at 76 per cent of residents staying active.
The study employed a sophisticated Wellbeing Environment Score methodology to evaluate health conditions across Britain’s major urban centres.
Drug Testing Kits UK analysed eight key metrics grouped into health baselines and wellness infrastructure categories to rank the 30 cities.
The comprehensive assessment included smoking prevalence, physical activity levels, air quality measurements, and availability of green spaces.
Researchers also examined access to healthy restaurants, gymnasiums, and spa facilities, with gym availability receiving double weighting in the final calculations.
The research has emerged against a disconcerting backdrop of deteriorating national health statistics
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The research has emerged against a disconcerting backdrop of deteriorating national health statistics, with UK heart disease deaths rising for the first time in 50 years, according to government data.
This alarming trend coincides with 28 per cent of British adults now being classified as obese, highlighting the urgent need for effective public health interventions.
Sales Director at Drug Testing Kits UK James Gunter said: “With UK heart disease deaths rising for the first time in decades, it’s clear that cities play a bigger role in public health than ever before.
“This data shows that access to gyms, green spaces, and clean air can help offset poor lifestyle habits.
“When healthy choices are easier to make, people are more likely to stick with them, and that’s where city design makes a measurable difference.”
Health
Common ingredient found in energy drinks might ‘fuel’ cancer cells in those with existing condition
Enticed by energy drinks’ high caffeine and sugar content, it’s no wonder that plenty of individuals reach for a can to acquire an extra boost to help them get through the day.
However, the latest research on the beverage has identified a common ingredient which might promote the growth of certain cancer cells.
A new study published in the journal Nature has revealed that taurine, a common ingredient found in energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar, may promote the growth of leukaemia cells in patients who already have this type of cancer.
Researchers used genetic tools to block taurine from entering leukaemia cells in human cancer cells and mouse models.
A common ingredient may promote the growth of certain cancer cells, experts warned
GETTY
When taurine was prevented from reaching the cancerous cells, it cut off a vital resource that the cancer needed to survive, leading to improved disease outcomes in their experiments.
The study found that cancer cells can hijack taurine to fuel their growth, according to Dr Wael Harb, a haematologist and medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute. “They use taurine to help them multiply more quickly,” he explained.
Study co-author Dr Jeevisha Bajaj, an assistant professor at the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute, discovered that taurine can be produced by bone-forming cells in the bone marrow microenvironment, the tissue inside bones where myeloid cancers begin and expand.
The research showed that leukaemia cells use taurine to encourage metabolic changes, including the breakdown of glucose to create energy for their functions.
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The researchers emphasised that their findings do not suggest taurine causes cancer in healthy individuals.
“We do not have any evidence that taurine, or any other ingredient in energy drinks, can increase the risk of leukaemia in healthy people,” said Dr Bajaj.
Dr Harb confirmed that taurine is “generally safe” to have in energy drinks for those without cancer. “That doesn’t mean that taurine causes cancer,” he added.
“But in people who already have cancer, it may fuel it,” he warned.
The researchers emphasise that their findings do not suggest taurine causes cancer in healthy individuals
GETTY
Taurine is a naturally occurring amino acid that may help regulate blood pressure, improve cardiac fitness, and enhance vascular health, with potential anti-ageing properties.
Still, doctors have said that healthy individuals do not need to stop drinking energy drinks based on these findings – a claim that is supported by the study’s researchers.
However, for patients with leukaemia, Dr Harb recommends discussing energy drink consumption with their doctor, including how often they consume such beverages.
“More research is still needed on how to manage taurine with cancer care,” Dr Harb noted.
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