HAY fever sufferers in North Yorkshire will be reaching for their medication now as the sneezing season gets under way.

About 20 per cent of people in the UK suffer from this annual condition and the number has doubled over the over the last 20 years.

It is thought that our modern obsession with cleanliness and the resulting lack of exposure to generally harmless bacteria may be to blame.

This is coupled with our longest ever pollen seasons, a phenomenon linked to global warming.

Just under a quarter of all hay fever sufferers will currently be experiencing symptoms as the birch pollen season has begun, though it was delayed due to cold weather.

Most sufferers will be safe until late May when the grass pollen season begins, affecting more than 90 per cent of those with the condition. Finally, the weed pollen season begins towards the end of June, lasting until September.

Often the first port of call for sufferers of hay fever is their GP, and with new and more advanced treatments emerging every year this is a good way to find the right remedy for you.

Another source of information commonly used is the internet.

However, with so much seemingly contradictory information out there, it is difficult to know what to believe and whose advice to take.

For example, some websites suggest you stay indoors in the early mornings and evenings, when the pollen count is highest, whereas others suggest that hay fever symptoms peak between midday and 1pm.

So rather than becoming reclusive during the summer months, what should we do?

Professor Jean Emberlin, director of Pollen UK Information, the national monitoring network, says: “Taking precautions now will help prevent the immune system from overreacting, and it is sensible to check pollen counts so that you’re aware of high-risk days.”

Below are his top tips.

4 tips for dealing with hay fever

1. Be Active: Exercise more to reduce stress and boost immunity, but not outdoors when pollen counts are highest.

2. Be Healthy: Eat a varied, balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables and antioxidants to boost your immune system. Quercetin, one of nature’s most powerful antihistamines, is contained in low levels in many fruit and vegetables but is most concentrated in onions. Some sufferers swear that eating local honey really helps.

3. Be Covered: Wear sunglasses and a broad-rimmed hat to keep pollen off your face. Change your clothes and rinse your eyes when you come indoors to get rid of pollen.

4. Be Prepared: Remember to carry medication, water and tissues with you at all times. Visit your GP and find out about which treatments may help you. Also, try to find out which pollen you are allergic to. GPs can now carry out tests to find out, but a diary of symptoms may also help.