Hay fever and what causes it..
Asthma society issues warning on how to manage perilous condition
Marcus Butler
THE Asthma Society has urged the 450,000 sufferers across Ireland to wear masks, wraparound shades and use antihistamines as the high pollen period of summer looms.
A total of 5,000 people are admitted to hospital every year here as a result of asthma attacks, with 100 ending up in intensive care.
The society also says there are roughly 50 deaths per year from asthma in Ireland, which translates to one every week.
In 2022, 81 asthma fatalities were registered in Ireland.
The Asthma Society issued its annual warning amid concerns some people are sleepwalking into danger by not effectively managing their condition.
It said frequent symptoms and more serious flare-ups are a clear sign that the lungs are badly inflamed.
Similarly, waking at night while wheezing should be viewed as a prompt to seek help.
The society’s Professor Marcus Butler said: “If you frequently need your rescue inhaler or steroid tablets to relieve asthma flares, it means that your asthma is uncontrolled, putting you at risk and can sometimes permanently harm how your lungs function.”
High-profile victims of asthma include former Ireland rugby international Ronan O’gara, who has previously talked about how it left him “surviving as opposed to thriving” as a child and said coaches and parents should be educated on the signs and impact of the condition.
The La Rochelle coach, whose asthma is now under control, said he would be “gasping for breath” and felt as if he was about to have a heart attack every time he exercised when younger.
Other famous sports people have also conquered the problem.
Another ex-ireland star, Denis Hickie, said he never encountered any barriers in his career because of his asthma, as he “had it under control”.
Ireland international and Manchester United player, John O’shea, did not allow the condition to hold him back.
Two world recordbreaking marathon runners, Britain’s Paula Radcliffe and Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie, also suffer from asthma, but manage it properly. The Asthma Society says through taking other simple precautions, sufferers can do the same this summer. These include:
– Not exercising
ON MANAGING HAY FEVER
This time of year can be tough for asthma sufferers outside when the pollen count is high, and wearing a cycle mask when cycling.
– Showering, washing hair and changing clothes if you have been outdoors for an extended period.
– Not drying clothes outdoors because pollen spores may cling to them.
– Staying away from grassy areas and avoid mowing the lawn, a s clouds
o f
BATTLE pollen can be created. Consider creating an allergy-friendly garden.
– Minimising contact with pets that have been outside, as pollen can linger on their fur.
– Keeping your car windows closed when driving. Some cars can be fitted with a pollen filter.
– Applying a barrier gel/spray to the nostrils to prevent pollen from settling in the nose.
However, the Asthma Society has also warned how Irish weather altering as a result of climate change was a “major concern” and was “hugely significant” for asthma sufferers.
It said
increases
in
particulate matter driven by climate change could have a “devastating effect” on the lungs, but that most people were not aware of such “low-lying” variations.
Prof Butler’s colleague, respiratory consultant physician Prof Patrick Mitchell of Tallaght University Hospital, said: “During periods of elevated pollen levels, hay fever or allergic rhinitis can pose particularly serious health risks for people with asthma.
It’s important for individuals, especially those with asthma, to take preventative measures to minimise
POLLEN is made up of tiny particles which are released by plants and trees as part of their reproductive cycle.
It is an extremely fine powder and is spread by insects and the wind.
Pollen can be inhaled by humans and animals cause significant irritation and inflammation in people who are allergic to it.
For those with an allergy, pollen triggers the antibody immunoglobulin E, which creates mucus and leads to symptoms such as congestion and sneezing.
Hay fever is the most common name for pollen allergy and is most commonly caused by grass pollens, although other pollens can also trigger the symptoms.
SNEEZING
The symptoms are caused when immune system reacts to pollen in the body to produce histamine and other chemicals.you are more likely to suffer from hay fever if you have a family history of allergies, or if you suffer from asthma or eczema.
Most people develop hay fever in childhood or when they are a teenager, although it can be triggered at any age.
Many people find, however, that they grow out of the condition and suffer less from the symptoms of hay fever as an adult.
Hay fever symptoms can include frequent sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes and an itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears.
Sufferers may also experience the loss of your sense of smell, facial pain, sweating and headaches.
hay fever symptoms. He said: “Often, antihistamines and, if needed, steroidal nasal sprays will relieve symptoms.
Over 450,000 people in Ireland have asthma, and allergic rhinitis can trigger asthma symptoms, like coughing and shortness of breath, and even an asthma attack.
“By effectively managing hay fever, people with asthma can enhance their quality of life and we can promote better respiratory health overall.”
People with asthma can enhance their quality of life
PROF MITCHELL
Number of asthma fatalities in Ireland registered in 2022