If wheezing, coughing and breathlessness make your life miserable every year, well now is the time to prepare for the peak spring and thunderstorm asthma season.
That's the advice from the National Asthma Council Australia which is urging Australians with asthma and those prone to hay fever (allergic rhinitis) to visit their GP or pharmacist for a check-up.
Late September to December is when the amount of rye grass pollen and other allergic material such as fungi or dust in the air can significantly increase right across South-Eastern Australia with Dr Lyn Roberts, National Asthma Council's Strategic Advisor saying this can be a significant problem as three in four people with asthma also have hay fever.
"The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a wet end to 2020 for eastern half of Australia with wetter than average conditions from mid-September until the end of October that could result in above average grass growth,' she said.
"Hay fever can be caused by triggers such as pollens from grasses, trees or weeds or animal dander which is very tiny particles of skin that had been shed from animals with fur or feathers.
"It can cause upper and lower airway inflammation and result in itchy watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, cough, sinus pain and congestion and frequent sore throats.
"But more concerning is that hay fever can lead to an increased risk of serious asthma flare-ups for the 2.78 million Australians with asthma," she said.
People who are allergic to grass pollens, particularly ryegrass, can have asthma flare-ups caused by springtime thunderstorms, especially if their asthma is not well controlled or they're not taking regular preventer medication for their asthma.
- Dr Lyn Roberts, National Asthma Council Australia
"People who are allergic to grass pollens, particularly ryegrass, can have asthma flare-ups caused by springtime thunderstorms, especially if their asthma is not well controlled or they're not taking regular preventer medication for their asthma.
"Now is a great time to check in with your GP to discuss your asthma treatment, review your Asthma Action Plan, check you are using your inhalers properly and make sure you know what to do during a Spring thunderstorm or asthma emergency."
Preventive steps for people at risk include following their doctor's advice for using a hay fever nasal spray, asthma preventer, or both, particularly from mid-September until New Year's Day.
Simple steps people can take to reduce their asthma triggers during Spring:
- Check the pollen forecast and be extra careful on high pollen days
- If you have few asthma symptoms and are not already using a preventer, talk to your GP about whether you should start any treatment at least two weeks before the pollen season
- Use your preventer medications as prescribed and keep your asthma reliever with you
- Don't mow grass yourself and stay inside when it is being mown. If you must mow, wear a mask or consider taking a non-drowsy antihistamine if your GP says to
- Consider planting low-allergen plants in your garden that are pollinated by birds or insects
On high pollen days, extra steps may include:
- Checking your inhaler technique
- Trying to avoid going outdoors, especially on windy days or after thunderstorms.
- Keeping windows closed when in your car and consider using recirculating air conditioning.
- Keeping windows closed at home and consider using an air purifier.
- Not drying washing on an outside clothesline as pollen in the air can end up on clothes.
For easy-to-follow information on how to manage hay fever and asthma and prepare yourself for thunderstorm asthma season explore the National Asthma Council's website.
Eileen Wood
I'm a senior news journalist at The Senior newspaper, the leading publication bringing targeted news on issues affecting older Australians. We cover NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, SA and WA. If you have a story idea I would love to hear it. You can email me: eileen.wood@thesenior.com.au or phone The Senior 02-4355-5000, mob. 0487 495 805
I'm a senior news journalist at The Senior newspaper, the leading publication bringing targeted news on issues affecting older Australians. We cover NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, SA and WA. If you have a story idea I would love to hear it. You can email me: eileen.wood@thesenior.com.au or phone The Senior 02-4355-5000, mob. 0487 495 805
