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Do you suffer from asthma and
hayfever?
24.06.19
THE Asthma Society of
Ireland is warning the 9,926 people who have both
asthma and hayfever in Donegal to take precautions
as pollen levels begin to rise. The Pollen Tracker
on www.asthma.ie
provides an update of pollen levels across the four
provinces each day, and a predictor of the pollen
levels for the following day.
Sarah O’Connor, CEO of the Asthma Society of
Ireland, said: “For the 300,800 people who have
asthma and hayfever, hayfever can be particularly
dangerous. Hayfever symptoms are capable of
escalating an asthma attack, which in some cases can
be fatal. Asthma deaths are rising in Ireland, with
one person now dying every six days as a result of
their asthma. In addition, people with hayfever
experience symptoms which really compromise their
quality of life and ability to enjoy the summer
months.
We are advising all people who have asthma and
hayfever to make sure they take precautions and to
follow our “top tips for surviving hayfever season”
to ensure they do not suffer a fatal asthma attack.” |
Tips to survive
Hayfever Season:
- Keep an eye on our daily pollen tracker on ie
- Speak to a nurse on the Asthma Society’s free
Joint Asthma and COPD Adviceline (1800 44 54 64)
about putting a hayfever management plan in place
- Talk to a doctor or pharmacist NOW about taking
medication to prevent / reduce your symptoms. Don't
wait until you feel unwell.
- Keep windows shut in your bedroom at night
- Keep windows and doors closed when the pollen
count is high
- Stay indoors as much as possible on high pollen
days
- Stay away from grassy areas, especially when grass
is freshly cut
- Put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen
- Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting
into your eyes
- Shower, wash your hair and change your clothes if
you have been outside for an extended period
- Avoid drying clothes outdoors, or shake them
outdoors before bringing them in
- Minimise your contact with pets that have been
outdoors and are likely to be carrying pollen
- Consider a purifier with a built-in air quality
sensor to remove allergens and pollutants from the
air
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. It is essential that I manage my
hayfever to ensure it does not lead to a serious
asthma attack. 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. It was a terrifying experience and I did not
know if I was going to make it.
“Today, I make sure to take my anti-histamines,
along with all my asthma medications as part of my
Asthma Action Plan. Controlling my hayfever is
extremely important as it prevents me ending up back
in hospital. 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.”
For 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. |
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