Pollen season information
Be prepared for pollen season. Check the daily pollen forecast and see advice and resources for optimal asthma and allergy management. Sensitive Choice is committed to empowering people to live better with asthma and allergies.
Asthma, allergies and the pollen season
Up to 80% of people living with asthma also have allergies. Around 20% of Australians have allergic rhinitis, which is an allergy to pollens that is more commonly referred to as ‘hay fever’.
Pollen is found in plants, grasses, trees around Australia but the well-known trigger for seasonal hay fever and seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is windborne plant pollen. This type of pollen usually come from imported grasses, weeds and trees, which are wind pollinated. This means that these plants use the wind to carry pollen from plant to plant, rather than relying on bees or other insects to pollinate them.
Australian native plants are typically low allergen plants, although there are exceptions, such as cypress pine. Allergies are not usually triggered by highly flowered plants, because the pollen in these plants is carried by birds or insects and not the wind.
Pollen is one of the most common triggers for asthma and allergy symptoms.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic lung condition that affects the airways (the breathing tubes that carry air into our lungs). Asthma is caused by inflammation and tightening of the thin muscle around the airways which makes it harder to breathe.
Sometimes people with asthma find it harder to breathe in and out, because the airways in their lungs become narrower. It is like trying to breathe through a thin straw. At other times their breathing is normal.
What is an allergy?
An allergy is a chronic condition where a person’s immune system reacts to substances (allergens) that are typically harmless to most people.
There are many causes of allergy, and symptoms vary from mild to severe.
Asthma symptoms versus allergy symptoms
Allergy symptoms:
- itchy, watery eyes
- runny nose
- skin irritation
- sneezing.
Asthma symptoms:
- cough
- wheeze
- chest tightness
- shortness of breath.
For many people living with both asthma and allergies, symptoms like an itchy, runny, or blocked nose can make asthma more difficult to manage.
Pollen and hay fever fact sheet
Windborne plant pollen is a well-known trigger for seasonal hay fever and seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.
Reducing your exposure to pollen is the best way to avoid having symptoms flare up. However, completely avoiding pollen can be difficult, if not impossible, during the pollen season. There are key steps you can take to better manage your allergies and asthma.
Discover practical tips to reduce your exposure to pollens. Learn how to minimise the presence of common allergens in and around your home.
Thunderstorm asthma fact sheet
‘Thunderstorm asthma’ is a potent mix of pollens, weather conditions and rain that can trigger severe asthma symptoms.
When rain droplets crash into airborne pollen, the pollen grains are broken into tiny particles. These particles can then get further and deeper inside your lungs than the larger pollen grains and can trigger more severe asthma symptoms.
If you get hay fever (allergic rhinitis) in the springtime, you could be at risk of thunderstorm asthma.
Asthma action plans
An asthma action plan is a tool that helps people with asthma or their carers to take early action to prevent or reduce the severity of an asthma attack. It is a written plan developed with your GP that outlines the signs of worsening asthma symptoms and provides clear instructions on what to do in response.
Make an appointment with your doctor today to discuss your asthma symptoms current management. Regularly review your asthma action plan with your doctor, as your asthma may change over time.
How-to video library
Are you using your asthma inhaler as prescribed?
Check with your GP, pharmacist or nurse that you are using your puffer or inhaler device correctly. The National Asthma Council Australia has a range of instructional ‘how-to’ videos that demonstrate how to use a variety of medications and devices.
It’s easier to learn how to use your inhaler when a professional shows you how.
Asthma first aid charts
Do you know asthma first aid? The National Asthma Council Australia has developed clear guidelines on how to administer first aid for asthma for adults and children.
If you’re ever unsure of what to do when someone has worsening symptoms during an asthma attack:
- call an ambulance immediately
- dial 000 and state “this is an asthma emergency”
- give the person asthma first aid.
Quick action may help prevent an asthma attack from becoming an asthma emergency.