Have you noticed itchy or watery eyes, a runny nose or more sneezing than usual? Perhaps your asthma has also started playing up?
Welcome to spring in Melbourne.
For many people, warmer weather also means the return of seasonal allergies. Pollen from trees and grasses can trigger hay fever and, for some people, asthma symptoms.
Understanding your triggers and getting on top of symptoms early can make spring much more comfortable and may also help keep your asthma under control.
What is hay fever?
Despite its name, hay fever isn’t caused by hay and doesn’t cause a fever.
Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, occurs when your immune system reacts to something in the environment that is normally harmless. Common triggers include pollen, dust mites, mould and animal dander.
When you breathe in something you’re allergic to, it can cause inflammation inside the nose and affect the eyes, throat and sinuses.
Around one in five Australian adults experience hay fever.
Is it hay fever or a cold?
Hay fever can sometimes feel like a cold that just won’t go away.
Common symptoms include:
- sneezing
- an itchy, runny or blocked nose
- itchy, red or watery eyes
- an itchy throat, mouth or ears
- needing to clear your throat frequently
- headaches or facial pressure
- snoring or mouth breathing.
Unlike a typical cold, hay fever isn’t caused by a virus and generally doesn’t cause a fever.
For some people, symptoms are more than an inconvenience. Hay fever can disrupt sleep, leave you feeling tired during the day and make it harder to concentrate at work or school.
Why can spring be particularly difficult in Melbourne?
Different plants release pollen at different times of the year.
In Victoria, some trees release pollen during late winter and early spring. Grass pollen becomes particularly important later in spring, with Victoria’s grass pollen season generally running from October to December.
Wind can carry pollen considerable distances, which means you don’t necessarily need to live next to a grassy paddock or flowering tree to be affected.
Your symptoms may also vary considerably from one day to the next depending on pollen levels, weather and wind conditions.
Hay fever and asthma are closely connected
If you have asthma, don’t ignore your hay fever.
The nose and lungs are part of the same respiratory system, and inflammation caused by allergies can affect both. Around four in five people with asthma also experience hay fever, and poorly controlled hay fever can make asthma more difficult to manage.
Pollen can also directly trigger asthma symptoms, including:
- coughing
- wheezing
- chest tightness
- shortness of breath.
If you regularly experience these symptoms during spring but haven’t been diagnosed with asthma, it’s worth discussing them with your GP.
How can you manage hay fever?
The best approach depends on your symptoms and what you’re allergic to, but there are several things that may help.
Know your triggers
Pay attention to when your symptoms occur. If they become noticeably worse during spring or on high-pollen days, pollen may be playing a role.
Pollen forecasts can help you plan ahead during the season.
Check out Melbourne Pollen, a website providing a daily pollen forecast of grass pollen levels in the air around Victoria.
Reduce your exposure
It isn’t possible to completely avoid airborne pollen, but on high-pollen days you may find it helpful to:
- keep windows and doors closed where practical
- use recirculated air when driving
- avoid mowing lawns or spending long periods around freshly cut grass
- shower and change clothes after spending significant time outdoors
- dry washing indoors rather than outside
- wear sunglasses outdoors to help protect your eyes.
Treat symptoms appropriately
Treatment options for hay fever include non-drowsy antihistamines, antihistamine eye drops, saline nasal sprays and corticosteroid nasal sprays.
Different medicines work on different symptoms, so rather than putting up with symptoms or repeatedly reaching for whatever happens to be in the medicine cupboard, speak with your GP or pharmacist about the most appropriate treatment for you.
For people with persistent or severe allergies, your GP may also recommend allergy testing or referral to an allergy specialist.
If you have asthma, spring is a good time to check your asthma plan
Continue taking your asthma medicines as prescribed, including your preventer if you use one.
It’s also worth making sure:
- your prescriptions are up to date
- you have access to your reliever inhaler
- your inhaler technique is correct
- you have an up-to-date written Asthma Action Plan
- you know what to do if your symptoms suddenly get worse.
If you’re using your reliever more often, waking at night because of asthma, becoming breathless more easily or finding that asthma is interfering with normal activities, book an appointment with your GP to review your asthma management.
Don’t forget about thunderstorm asthma
Melbourne also has another springtime respiratory risk: epidemic thunderstorm asthma.
It can occur when high levels of grass pollen combine with particular thunderstorm conditions. Pollen grains can break into tiny particles that are small enough to travel deep into the lungs and rapidly trigger asthma symptoms.
People with asthma, previous asthma or spring hay fever can be at increased risk, including some people who haven’t previously been diagnosed with asthma.
During Victoria’s grass pollen season from 1 October to 31 December, check pollen levels and the thunderstorm asthma forecast. On increased-risk days, avoid being outdoors in the strong winds that can occur before and during a storm, and close doors and windows where possible.
When should you see your GP?
Consider booking an appointment if:
- your hay fever is affecting your sleep, work, school or everyday activities
- over-the-counter treatments aren’t controlling your symptoms
- you’re unsure what is triggering your allergies
- you’re experiencing wheezing, chest tightness, coughing or shortness of breath
- your asthma symptoms are increasing
- you don’t have an up-to-date Asthma Action Plan.
Your GP can help you work out what’s causing your symptoms, review your medications and develop a management plan to help you stay well through spring.
If you are having severe difficulty breathing or experiencing a serious asthma attack, call Triple Zero (000).
