Asthma and hayfever

[Helliwell]

Hello everyone, I'm after some advice about hayfever and asthma. Normally my asthma gets better in the summer (the winter cold is a trigger) but this summer I've developed hayfever and am now getting breathless. I've also got an active cough, especially in the morning. I'm speaking to the asthma nurse tomorrow but has anyone else experienced this? It's all new to me.

[Junglechicken]

Hi Helliwell. I’m a summer girl and my asthma is so much worse in the spring and summer (I start to improve around mid September). Definitely speak to you AN/GP as they will be able to advise as to how to manage your condition as your feeling poorly at this time of year.

[Helliwell in reply to Junglechicken]

Thank you so much, it's always difficult to know what's 'normal' when these flare ups happen. Hopefully the AN will be able to help 🙂

[Junglechicken]

Flare ups due to hay fever are quite common. The worse attack I had as an adult was following a visit to a garden centre at the height of summer. Just been out to do a little gardening and I’ve come in tight, wheezing and coughing.

What also doesn’t help are hot, humid conditions which are common in the UK. Again I’ve had an attack while taking a bath. I’ve had a few scrapes with cold air but hot air is the nemesis.

[Helliwell in reply to Junglechicken]

Thank you and sorry to hear you're suffering too. I can't do cold either, sets me off.

[Js706]

Sorry you’re struggling a bit at the moment! As JC says, allergies and hayfever are a really common trigger for asthma.

A lot of the pollen like tree and grass have had their peak and are on the way down but I think there are some weed pollens starting up around now (there are pollen calendars available online where you can check the seasons for the main ones).

Also if the breathlessness is more recent do you know if pollution is a trigger for you? As lockdown is easing and there are more vehicles etc on the roads again some people are finding their symptoms are flaring. And I often find nice weather a problem as people start having BBQs which can set me off!

If you’ve been having hayfever symptoms this year have you been taking anything for it? Like a daily antihistamine or steroid nasal spray? If not it might be worth trying as they can also help get asthma symptoms from it under control (and they’re available quite cheap over the counter).

But definitely worth talking it all through with your asthma nurse

[Helliwell in reply to Js706]

Hi, thanks for your reply and the advice. Hayfever is a recent thing, I've never had it before but I am on tablets now and it seems to be helping. I just feel wiped out today with all this breathlessness I've been having. Hopefully that will get better. Never thought about pollution before. Interestingly it gets worse in the car so I'll mention that to the nurse as well. 🙂

[Junglechicken in reply to Helliwell]

Sometimes the anti-histamine can make me sleepy and lethargic (depends on how tired i am before I take them). So be careful if you’re driving etc.

[Helliwell in reply to Junglechicken]

Thank you that's good to know 🙂