We have seen a spike in environmental allergies and asthma lately, triggered in both Melbourne with Thunderstorm Asthma and in NSW and Queensland with the bushfires.

With allergies on the rise in general, one in four people with allergic rhinitis also have asthma.

Pollens can trigger asthma as well as rhinitis symptoms (hay fever) in spring and summer. With strong winds, pollen counts can travel long distances and when it rains or is humid, pollen grains can absorb moisture and burst open, releasing hundreds of small pollen allergens that can then affect our lungs when we inhale them.

Allergy can play an important role in asthma, so it’s useful to identify your own triggers and understand how to avoid and manage them.

Around 80% of people with asthma have positive allergy test results

5 things you can do

1. Stay inside on high pollen days. Close windows and doors to keep outdoor air outside
2. Use a netti pot or sinus wash to clear pollen from the sinuses
3. Incorporate a preventative approach by using guided natural remedies to assist the immune system and manage symptoms
4. Identify your own unique triggers, be they pollen, dust, animals, exercise or foods with a IgE allergen test. Understand the best management strategies to avoid your particular triggers
5. Have an action plan in place with your doctor and any medication required handy.

For help identifying your triggers, IgE testing or creating a natural allergy elimination plan, schedule a phone call with Sandra Tenge or book a consult at her Brighton clinic.