By Andrew Leslie, pharmacist Blooms The Chemist Casey Central
If longer days, flowering meadows, little ducklings and the sound of birdsong strikes fear into your heart, do not fear as you are not alone.
Like me and the 4.5 million other Australians, the end of winter means the start of another season – hay fever season.
With mild symptoms ranging from frustrating blurry vision and watery eyes to that embarrassing dribbling nose, the severe sufferers will detail sleepless nights, fatigue, asthma attacks and eczema flares.
With up to a 70 per cent correlation between those suffering from hay fever, eczema and asthma, and 100 different genetic factors at play, this pollen season can mean more than just the occasional antihistamines.
Our slice of paradise is not immune. Due to our wide open spaces, temperate climate and healthy mix of forested and agricultural land, Melbourne is considered the allergy capital of the world. So how do we make the florist our friend and not foe? It’s all in the avoidance, prevention and then treatment and executing it in that order.
Avoidance
Tree pollen has certainly exploded, and November saw the start of the dreaded grass pollen release (responsible for thunderstorm asthma). Combine this with the windiest time of year and it’s no wonder it sees us Victorians reaching for the Kleenex. So on those extreme windy days, if you and the family can, avoid unnecessary outdoor adventures. But if the kids are dragging you outdoors, use a nasal douche and eye rinse as soon as you’re back indoors, change your clothes and jump in the shower. The pollen cannot harm you if it cannot reach you.
Prevention
If you know this time of year spells disaster for you and the littlies, have your treatment plan and options ready to go and discuss with your Blooms The Chemist pharmacist whether it’s appropriate to start your medication before the symptoms hit. There have also been some groundbreaking developments in natural and probiotics products. One probiotic study has indicated a 70 per cent reduction in asthma symptoms in children. Again, talk to your Blooms The Chemist pharmacist if this may be appropriate for you and your family.
Treatment
When those symptoms hit don’t delay – it’s much better to start your treatment as early as possible, not just for your relief but to also settle down that out of control immune system. Treatment in this category is varied, can often require multiple targeted products and are not suitable for everyone. There are certainly options available for children, though some more appropriate than others. So remember to always engage your pharmacist at Blooms The Chemist Casey Central, and then take yourself and the family down to your favourite florist to enjoy all that spring and summer has to offer.
