The number of hay fever sufferers needing NHS advice has tripled as a complicated cocktail of peak pollen counts and record June temperatures is leaving people struggling with symptoms.

One person every three seconds sought advice from the health service on Sunday – a record number of visitors to the NHS website which registered 27, 834 hay fever-related visits in just 24 hours.

Demand for the health service’s hay fever web pages have increased by 252% in the past few weeks as the grass pollen season has got underway and the UK has enjoyed its first signs of summer.

High temperatures, stormy weather and a peak in grass pollen has prompted warnings since the weekend about the risk of a pollen bomb and a rare phenomenon called ‘thunderstorm asthma’ in which storms break up pollen fragments that can cause sudden and severe attacks in sufferers.

Robert Cleary, content director for NHS England’s website, said: “Many of us experience hay fever symptoms at this time of year and the NHS hay fever advice page provides the latest medical advice to manage your symptoms as well as giving guidance on when to get support from NHS services.”

Most hay fever symptoms, says the NHS, can be effectively managed at home or with medication available in pharmacies or supermarkets.

But what else can you do to get control of the discomfort?

Vaseline

Many sufferers claim rubbing Vaseline around your nostrils or across your cheek bones is the ultimate hack for hay fever. Designed to be a pollen catcher, dabbing it on your face can help create a balm barrier which traps the pollen before it's able to enter your system through your eyes or nose.

The method is also a popular one with parents trying to treat pollen allergies in children too young to take many medicines.

Avoid peak pollen times

Monitoring the predicted pollen count and checking the weather forecast can give you an early indication of how problematic conditions are likely to be that might enable you to plan accordingly and ensure you're well prepared.

Pollen counts are most likely to be at their highest first thing in the morning when the pollen rises with the warming air and at the end of the day when the air cools, bringing the pollen back down and closer to the ground.

According to Allergy UK the pollen count will also be at its highest on dry, warm days while heavy rain can provide some short lived relief in washing it away temporarily.

When a storm is brewing and pollen counts are very high, those with asthma are being advised to stay indoors where possible and keep windows closed. Wearing a mask if you need to leave the house is also advisable to prevent small pollen grains, broken up by the unsettled weather, entering the lungs.

Alter washing habits

We all love the clean smell of laundry aired outside but pollen will stick itself to everything. If you're suffering with hay fever during the worst weeks or months it is advisable to dry not just your clothes - but also bath towels and bedding - inside in the summer months as this will significantly limit the amount of pollen brought back inside the house.

Pillow cases should also be washed every few days when pollen counts are high.

If pillows are covered in pollen, perhaps because the window has been open to air the room or you didn't wash your hair before bed, then you risk continually rubbing it into your face and eyes all night say allergy experts

While, with the cost of living being as high as it is, you may be trying to cut down on the amount of washing you're doing not returning clothes to the wardrobe or bringing them back to bedroom when they've been worn outside is advisable.

That sweatshirt may not be covered in a noticeable stain but it will most likely be full of tiny flecks of pollen and bringing it back ins the bedroom or hanging it among other clothes in the wardrobe could irritate you later.

Undressing elsewhere in the house and placing clothes either into a wash bin or directly into the machine can also stop pollen being carried through your home.

Tie your hair back

Tying your hair back, or covering it with a cap and wearing sunglasses are very quick and easy adjustments to limit the amount of pollen likely to cling to you and in particular, around your face.

These are also popular barrier methods if you’re trying to manage symptoms in small children, alongside washing their hands and face when they come in from playing outside in order to further stop them from rubbing and transferring pollen to their nose and eyes.

High street chain Holland & Barrett, lists eating locally produced honey as among its top tips for alternative hay fever relief.

Alongside drinking nettle tea, consuming more vitamin C and tackling stress, it is suggested eating honey from where you live can also help relieve the symptoms of seasonal allergies.

A teaspoon of local honey a day - that you ideally begin taking before the worst of the hay fever season - is thought to play a role in desensitising you to pollen which in turn will then lessen your symptoms. While there is little medical evidence to support this theory many hay fever suffers swear by it so if you've a local farm shop or producer near you it might be worth paying them a visit.