With the peak period for grass pollen counts imminent and the onset of spring increasing environmental triggers for people living with respiratory conditions, experts are urging asthma sufferers to ensure they have a management plan in place.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
NSW Ambulance figures show paramedics attended 21,737 callouts for asthma in 2015-16 (July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016). This is compared with 25,036 the previous year.
Over the two-year period (2014-16), Western Sydney Zone 1 recorded the highest number of calls (4234 calls), followed by Sydney South West Zone 2 (3604), Sydney (3541) and the Illawarra (3248).
Connie Katelaris, Head of Immunology Department at Campbelltown Hospital, and Professor of Immunology and Allergy Western Sydney University, said the warmer months heightened the risk of asthma, allergies and hayfever due to an increase in pollen and other seasonal airborne allergens.
Professor Katelaris, who also heads the Sydney Pollen Count & Forecast website, said the peak period for grass pollen counts was over a four to six week period in October – November. She said it is important asthmatics prepare now by:
- updating their management plans with their doctor;
- making sure they are on preventatives and using them properly; and
- having their reliever medications on hand, particularly if they are going outdoors, to play or watch sport, or participate any type of physical activity.
“Importantly, people should also be treating their nasal allergy because if their allergic rhinitis is not well controlled they are more likely to have problems with their asthma. So it’s all about prevention for the upper airway and prevention for the lower airway.”
The 2014-15 ambulance figures show paramedic attendances peaked in August, with 2720 cases in 2014, and 2795 in 2015. The trend continued this August with 2673 cases.
Professor Katelaris said, however, these figures were attributable to the peak influenza and virus season when asthma is experiences as a result, and is unrelated to pollen counts.
She added the total pollen count was currently high, although this was in relation to tree pollen, which does not affect the human population.
“When you look at the pollen count, not only do you want to know the absolute number of pollen grains in the air, you want to know what they’re from,” she said.
“In early spring, we get tree pollen, especially in the Greater Sydney area where we get mainly pine, cypress and casuarina pollen. They are big pollinators, but they have low allergenicities; in other words, there are not a lot of people who are affected.”
NSW Ambulance Zone Manager Illawarra & South West Sydney Sector, superintendent Stephanie Radnidge, added asthmatics should understand what triggers their condition and either avoid them or have an effective plan in place to manage the symptoms.
“A serious asthma attack can be fatal in only minutes, so it is absolutely vital asthma sufferers carry their medication with them at all times, and call Triple Zero (000) should their symptoms become severe,” she said.