A runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing – whatever your hay fever symptoms, it’s no surprise if you’ve had a flare-up recently. During spring, both tree and grass pollen is released into the air. If you’re allergic to the proteins they contain, your nose, eyes, throat and sinuses can become swollen, irritated and inflamed. “Many people are suffering from hay fever just now because the pollen count is high, thanks in part to climate change,” says Dr Nisa Aslam, GP from Typharm’s Skin Life Sciences Foundation. “Plus the pollen season is getting longer.” The immune function plays an important role in an allergic reactions, she explains. “People who suffer from hay fever often have a family history of not just hay fever, but also skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, which can often be borne out of problems with the immune system.” The weather can also be a contributing factor in how badly you’re affected. “Some hay fever sufferers may be experiencing a sudden spike in their symptoms a bit earlier than usual, this may be due to the recent prolonged wet and windy weather,” says Claire Nevinson, superintendent pharmacist at Boots. “On a daily basis, rainfall tends to decrease pollen, but over a period of months, intermittent wet days tend to produce a more severe hay fever season overall.” Conditions could be about to get even worse. A recent study by the University of Worcester, published in the Science of The Total Environment journal, warned that it could be one of the worst seasons for birch pollen on record. The severity is due to two things. “Firstly, higher than average temperatures last June, when the pollen is produced, allowed greater potential for high pollen levels,” says Dr Beverley Adams-Groom, senior pollen forecaster at the university. “Secondly, birch trees have a biennial pattern of pollen production, one mild year and one severe year, and this year was already expected to be a high year.” So what can you do if your hay fever is much worse than usual at the moment? The first step is to avoid exposure to the pollen that affects you the most. “Allergens responsible for hay fever include grass pollens and tree pollens [spring and summer], weed pollens and fungal mould spores,” says Dr Aslam. “Watch the daily pollen forecasts. Don’t go outside when the pollen count is high and keep all windows shut.” Preventive medicines can help to reduce symptoms if you know in advance when you’re going to be exposed to pollen. “This can be a steroid nasal spray one to two weeks before symptoms start,” says Dr Aslam. Alternatively, natural nasal sprays “can help to prevent the symptoms of hayfever and other types of allergic rhinitis by forming a protective film in our inner nose, stopping allergens that we breathe in from trying to enter our respiratory system”, she says. Similarly, ointments like Vaseline can act as a pollen trap. “Apply a barrier balm of petroleum jelly around your nose to trap the pollen and help relieve dry and uncomfortable skin from repetitive nose blowing,” Ms Nevinson says. “Shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off and wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes.” Read More Seasonal allergies tips and tricks as pollen count rises What is the link between pollen and eye infections? Hay fever may be mistaken for Covid, warns expert Why do heatwaves in the UK feel hotter than abroad? The startling and grim discoveries unearthed by the climate crisis Earth’s CO2 hits highest recorded level in human history

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Hailey Bieber has addressed the ongoing chatter about her and husband Justin Bieber’s extremely different styles. The model, 26, spoke candidly about her and her partner’s clothing choices in the public eye during an interview with GQ Hype, published on 24 October. Her remarks came as their looks have continued to make headlines, since Justin has often opted for sweatpants and a sweatshirt while Hailey typically chooses more glamorous looks. Speaking to GQ Hype, Hailey said that she found humour in how fans react to their very different outfits, while noting that Justin is usually the one dressed before her when they go out. “It’s so funny because I see so many people talk about this,” she said. “He may want to wear baggy sweats to dinner, and I might want to wear a tiny little dress just because that’s how I’m feeling.” The Rhode Beauty founder specified that she and Justin – who’ve been married since 2018 – aren’t concerned about having coordinating outfits. “We can’t sit there and be like: ‘So I’m going to wear this and you’re going to wear this,’” she added. In August, fans were quick to poke fun at the pair when Hailey wore a glamorous red dress and Justin wore a pair of casual sweat shorts to a Rhode Beauty event in New York City. At the time, they celebrated the launch of Rhode’s strawberry glaze lip treatment at a Krispy Kreme, with the model wearing a mini-dress and matching heels, which she paired with strawberry-shaped earrings and a necklace with a large, silver “B” hanging from the chain. She also had her hair up in her signature, slicked-back bun. @katebartlett and they both serve every single outfit ?????? ♬ original sound - kate bartlett Meanwhile, her husband opted for a much more casual look: A grey sweatshirt and matching sweat shorts, which he wore with a pink cap and pair of yellow crocs. On social media, many fans poked fun at the couple’s opposite styles, with influencer Kate Bartlett claiming on TikTok that “nine times out of 10, [Hailey and Justin] are never dressed for the same event”. In the comments of her video, one fan quipped: “It’s giving he came to pick her up but she made him come in and say hi,” while another added: “I feel like he accidentally showed up.” During the interview with GQ Hype, Hailey’s longtime friend, Kelia Moniz, expressed how she took issue with the viral commentary about her pals’ outfits during the Rhode Beauty event in August. “It’s like, it wasn’t Justin’s day. It was Hailey’s day,” she said. “He’s there to support his wife, period. But also, he still looks cool, so you can’t hate the guy.” Read More Hailey Bieber responds to ‘disheartening’ pregnancy rumours Fans praise Justin Bieber for custom-made artwork for wife Hailey Britney Spears tells story behind matching double-denim moment with Justin Timberlake Britney Spears tells story behind matching double-denim moment with Justin Timberlake How to do Halloween make up and still take care of your skin The story behind Princess Diana’s Philadelphia Eagles jacket

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Funny enough, the most normal thing a dad can do is be a complete weirdo (who makes you question your genetic makeup). When he's not starring in the most embarrassing moments of your life, he's telling the worst jokes you've ever heard or doing the nerdiest things you've ever seen. So, come June, it's only right we present them with the most unique Father's Day gifts to match their utterly eccentric personalities.

Talking to toddlers can help advance early brain development, scientists have found. Researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) discovered that two-and-a-half-year-olds who heard more speech in everyday life had more myelin – a substance that makes brain signals more efficient – in language-related areas of their brains. The researchers said their findings, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, demonstrate how talking to toddlers can shape their developing brain. Lead researcher Prof John Spencer, from UEA’s School of Psychology, said: “We know that children’s brains develop very rapidly in the first two years of life, with brain volume at about 80% that of an adult brain by the age of two. The message to caregivers is clear - talk to your baby, your toddler, your child. Not only are they listening, but your language input is literally shaping their brains Prof John Spencer “Myelin is made up of protein and fatty substances and forms an insulating layer around nerves in the brain.” He added: “Imagine you have a hosepipe with lots of holes in it. “Myelin is like wrapping the hosepipe with duct tape – it insulates neural fibres, bringing more of the ‘signal’ from one brain area to the next.” For the study, the researchers gave 163 babies and toddlers small recording devices to wear for three days. They analysed just over 6,000 hours of language data in total, which included words spoken by the children as well as speech from adults. When the children were asleep, the researchers carefully placed them in an MRI scanner to measure myelin in their brains. Prof Spencer said: “What we found is that the toddlers who heard more speech in their everyday environment also had more myelin, which is likely to support more sophisticated language processing. “In other words – talking to your kids is very important in early development as it helps to shape the brain.” The researchers said their study is one of the first to show that listening to speech is associated with brain structure early in development. Prof Spencer said: “Prior work showed a similar association in four to six-year-olds, but our findings push this association much earlier in development. “Indeed, we even found associations between language input and brain structure in six-month-old infants.” He added: “Although there is still much more to learn about these processes, the message to caregivers is clear – talk to your baby, your toddler, your child. “Not only are they listening, but your language input is literally shaping their brains.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Is your child too anxious to go to school? What’s the link between the menopause and anxiety? How to encourage green-fingered kids

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