The Asthma Society of Ireland is today warning asthmatics and hayfever sufferers to take precautions as pollen levels begin to rise.
Pollen counts will be high throughout the week due to the warm and humid weather.
The Asthma Society of Ireland is advising all people who have asthma and hayfever to make sure they follow their top tips to ensure they do not suffer a fatal asthma attack.
Some of the tips on surviving hayfever this season are to keep your windows shut in your bedroom at night, stay indoors on days when the pollen is high, put vaseline around your nostrils on high pollen days and to minimise your contact with pets that have been outdoors as they are likely to be carrying pollen.
The Asthma Society has teamed up with Dyson Ireland to launch its Pollen Tracker on asthma.ie. The tracker provides an update of pollen levels across the four provinces each day, and a predictor of the pollen levels for the following day.
Some of the common hayfever symptoms are a runny nose and nasal congestion, watery, itchy, red eyes, frequent sneezing, fatigue and many more.
Irish woman Niamh O’Halloran, who suffered a near-fatal asthma attack because of her hayfever, said, “Most of my friends with hayfever experience the itchy watery eyes, runny nose and itchy throat, etc. But for me, as I have asthma and hayfever, symptoms can be a lot more serious. In my teenage years, I suffered an asthma attack because of my hayfever which nearly took my life and left me in hospital for over a week.
Niamh also said that “Today, I make sure to take my anti-histamines, along with all my asthma medications as part of my Asthma Action Plan. I find the Asthma Society’s Pollen Tracker an excellent tool which allows me to prepare and take precautions on any day when the pollen count will be high.”
Dr Marcus Butler, Medical Director of the Asthma Society, said, “Managing asthma becomes more difficult over the summer months as the nice weather brings a long and sharp increase in the pollen count. Research suggests that up to 80% of people with asthma notice a worsening of asthma symptoms due to allergies such as pollen, as their bodies trigger an allergic reaction. It is vital that all asthma patients with pollen or grass allergy have an Asthma Action Plan and prepare for the hayfever season to limit its effects.”
If you have any questions on managing your, or a family member’s asthma and/or COPD, call the Asthma Society’s free Joint Asthma and COPD Adviceline on 1800 44 54 64, where you can talk to a trained respiratory nurse about getting your hayfever symptoms in control.
