Latest news with #SouthWestEngland
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Why your hay fever symptoms are worse at night - and how to sleep better
A high pollen count is causing sleepless nights for hay fever sufferers. The surge in pollen levels is particularly affecting those in the south west of England, with experts warning that symptoms often worsen at night, disrupting sleep and overall well-being. Dr Seeta Shah, a medical expert at Panda London, said: "Throughout the evening the pollen count peaks, increasing the chances of allergens finding their way into your bedroom. "This can lead to a build-up of indoor allergens which can heighten hay fever symptoms as you settle down at bedtime. "As well as being uncomfortable and making falling asleep harder, hay fever symptoms can disrupt sleeping patterns by causing awakenings during the night. "This reduces the amount of deep restorative sleep hay fever sufferers can get and can leave them feeling lethargic and tired, even after a full night's rest." To reduce the impact of allergens indoors, Dr Shah recommends keeping windows closed during high pollen periods and switching to hypoallergenic bedding. She suggests that bamboo sheets may be particularly helpful, as the fabric is naturally hypoallergenic, breathable and resistant to dust mites and other microorganisms. READ: Hay fever? Here's 5 drinks you have at home that could help 'wash out' symptoms Dr Shah said: "Switching to bamboo bedding is particularly beneficial for those with allergies as the fabric is naturally hypoallergenic, breathable and resistant to microorganisms and parasites like dust mites and bed bugs. "This not only reduces irritation but also promotes a healthier sleep environment." She also advises regular washing of bed linen and taking a shower before bed to remove pollen from skin and hair. Dr Shah said: "If your symptoms are getting worse at bedtime you should ensure you are washing your bedding regularly. "As well as regularly washing your bed linen, it's also a good idea to take a shower before you get into bed during hay fever season." For those struggling with nasal congestion, extra pillows may help, but care should be taken to avoid neck strain. Bethany Lawrence, an orthopaedic expert at Panda London, said: "Whilst elevating your head is a popular way to relieve nasal congestion caused by hay fever, if you're using this technique you need to ensure you are not straining your neck."
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Tears of joy as ospreys visit Devon nests on telegraph poles
Conservationists said they "burst into tears" after ospreys landed on special nesting poles in Tamar and Tavy Osprey Project installed the nests on top of 56ft (17m) high telegraph poles in June 2024 on farmland in Warleigh Barton, Plymouth, with the hope it would help the rare birds to breed.A year on from the installation, the group said a female osprey had landed in the Kent, who helped set up the project, said while the birds had still not bred in the nests, the fact an osprey had used them was exciting and made all the work worthwhile. The project said the south-west of England currently had no breeding ospreys, despite the birds being sighted locally for 40 years. 'Something really magical' Ms Kent said the bird which visited had a tag on it which showed the osprey was a female and had travelled from Rutland in the East Midlands via Poole Harbour in said the bird using the nest made the hopes of ospreys breeding locally move "one step closer"."I burst into tears when I saw the osprey land and I was shaking," she said."I was so emotional and so excited that all of the work that we've put in and all of the doubt and all the work we put in came to something really magical."
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Plymouth sign former Aberdeen defender MacKenzie
Plymouth Argyle have signed free-agent former Aberdeen defender Jack 25-year-old, who left the Dons this week, has agreed a three-year contract with the Pilgrims, who were relegated to League One this helped the Dons win the Scottish Cup last week when they beat Celtic on penalties and was called up to the Scotland squad for the first time last year. He is the third new signing for Argyle this summer after Coventry City striker Jamie Paterson and Exeter City midfielder Caleb Watts agreed free transfers last week."This is a big move for Jack, moving away from his home town, swapping the North East of Scotland for the South West of England, but I've been really impressed with his desire to join the project here at Argyle,' Argyle's head of football operations David Fox said."We see Jack as a very versatile player. He is able to play in multiple positions, and his adaptability and commitment were something we highlighted very early on in our recruitment of him."
