With Wimbledon starting today, a leading allergy expert has warned that players and spectators could be seriously affected this year by hayfever. Prof Jean Emberlin, (director of Pollen UK, the UK pollen monitoring and forecasting service) has just published a new Report which predicts that pollen counts could be high at the Championships which start on 21st June and this combined with air pollution from London could lead to “uncomfortable” conditions for many people. The “Hay Fever and Sport” report sponsored by Care Allergy Defence (a new drug-free, clinically proven hayfever treatment) estimates that up to 150,000 spectators could be affected by sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes.

Players at the Grand Slam could also fall victim to hayfever, with the younger players likely to be the worst affected as hayfever affects nearly 40% of teenagers. Prof Emberlin warns that “elite sports performance can be seriously affected by hayfever. Who wins and who loses could depend on the pollen count on the day. Hayfever symptoms can directly impact on performance and the exercise required can make symptoms worse which will lead to reduced performance on high pollen count days.”

- One sneeze closes the eyes for a full second
- Sneezing upsets synchronisation and timing
- Hayfever decreases the ability to concentrate
- Nasal flow can be impaired by up to 80%, impairing breathing and adversely affecting cardiovascular performance

Players rumoured to suffer from hayfever include Jelena Jankovic (the ladies number 4 player) and Novak Djokovic (the men’s number 3 player).

95% of hay fever sufferers are allergic to grass pollen which peaks from the end of May until August. Sufferers are advised by Prof Emberlin to:

• Talk to your GP or pharmacist about treatments and remedies. Because of problems with some medications consider using natural barrier treatments like inert cellulose powder (Care Allergy Defence) as this has no known side effects or interactions with other medication

• Check the pollen forecasts

• Get at least 7 hours sleep per night as this helps the immune system

• Pay attention to nutrition, especially vitamin intake

• Wear sunglass to help keep pollen out of the eyes
“The Hay Fever and Sport Report” sponsored by Care Allergy Defence can be downloaded at: www.allergydefence.co.uk

For further press information, interviews, case studies, photography, contact:
Jane Stevenson: jane.stevenson@ntlbusiness.com / 07733266341

Notes for editors:

Care Allergy Defence is a unique powder spray which is clinically proven to rapidly relieve hay fever symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose and itchy/watery eyes within minutes.

Containing Nasaleze technology, Care Allergy Defence forms an invisible but effective barrier to block pollen and other airborne allergens from reaching the inside surfaces of the nose where the hayfever reaction takes place. In clinical trials, Care Allergy Defence demonstrated hay fever efficacy rates as high as 90% [1]. Based on inert natural cellulose powder, which cannot be absorbed by the body, Care Allergy Defence contains no steroids or antihistamines, has no known side effects or interactions with other medication and can be used by all hay fever sufferers including pregnant/breastfeeding women and children from 18 months. Care Allergy Defence 500mg (200 sprays), RRP £6-99 is available from Boots, Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s Pharmacy or online at: www.boots.com. It forms part of the Care range of products for everyday ailments, information about other products in the Care range can be found by visiting:
www.care-medicines.co.uk

Reference:
1. Vlahtis K, Clinical Study of Nasaleze*, presented March 2004
*NB: Nasaleze was re-branded as Care Allergy Defence in March 2010