The best defence that Australians with allergies and asthma can have as they head into thunderstorm asthma season is good day to day control of their asthma, according to the nation’s trusted authority on asthma management and care.
National Asthma Council Australia Director and respiratory physician Professor Peter Wark said now is the time to check in with your GP and make sure you are on the best treatment to control your asthma know what to do during a spring thunderstorm or asthma emergency.
Having good asthma control means using your preventer as prescribed and not needing to have to use your reliever puffer more than a few times a week.
“Australia has one of the highest prevalence rates of asthma in the world with 2.7 million Australians (one in 10) affected by asthma and we are now heading into peak thunderstorm asthma season from 1 October until the end of December,” he said.
“A La Niña event now under way in the Pacific Ocean will increase the likelihood of above-average rainfall during spring and summer in eastern Australia which can lead to above average grass growth and critically, more ryegrass pollen in the air.
“If you are allergic to ryegrass pollen, you could have a severe asthma attack if you are outside in gusty winds just before or during a thunderstorm in spring or early summer in a place where there is ryegrass pollen in the air, which includes most of south-eastern Australia.”
Professor Wark said that people with hay fever and allergy to ryegrass pollen may be at risk of thunderstorm asthma – even if they have never had asthma symptoms before*.
“Good asthma control is critical during thunderstorm asthma season, so keep taking your preventer medication as prescribed by your doctor,” Professor Wark said.
“Most people with asthma over the age of six years should be using a preventer to keep their asthma under control. A blue reliever inhaler does not stop the inflammation that causes asthma and will not prevent an asthma attack.
“If you need a reliever more than a couple of times a month you should be taking a preventer and in spring and early summer and if you are going to be in an area where there is ryegrass pollen make sure you talk to your doctor.”
If you have hay fever, Professor Wark advises that regular use of a nasal corticosteroid spray every day, at least during pollen season, is the best treatment to control allergy symptoms.
“Hay fever can cause upper and lower airway inflammation and result in itchy watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing, but even more concerning, hay fever can lead to an increased risk of serious asthma flare-ups,” he said.
Check out the Thunderstorm Asthma Fact Sheet or nationalasthma.org.au for more information.
Check the pollen forecast daily or download the Pollen Count app here
