If you suffer from hay fever, allergies or asthma, the lead up to spring can bring with it mixed feelings.
While the better weather is always a sweet relief after the cold and dark winter months, warmer weather often brings with it an increase in pollen production and allergens.
For many Australians, this seasonal shift can have a significant impact. More broadly, allergic diseases are affecting more Australians than ever before. Today, around 8.2 million people, or 1 in 3 Australians, have an allergic disease with at least one allergic condition. This figure has increased from 4.1 million people, or 1 in 5 Australians, back in 2007, highlighting the growing impact of allergic disease across the country. 1
Hay fever is one of the most common allergic conditions, affecting up to 24% of Australians and, according to Asthma Australia, up to 11% or 2.8 million Australians have asthma.
Pharmacy 777 Pharmacist Jane Riley says it’s important to be prepared for spring by making sure you have the right medications to hand and understand your personal triggers.
“It’s important to know your personal asthma or allergy triggers and Pharmacy 777 Pharmacists are here to offer you support and advice if you should need it,” Jane says.
“Community pharmacy plays an important role in helping support allergy and asthma sufferers because Pharmacists are easily accessible and able to provide that important support.
“Asthma Australia also has a comprehensive checklist - Opens in new tab so you can prepare for spring; this includes doing simple things such as, not drying your clothes outside so they don’t pick up pollen, and being aware of household allergens (such as mould and dust) and high pollen days.
“Good asthma and allergy control can make all the difference to how bad a spring season you have in 2026, and our aim is to help people have much less severe flare ups.
“We also recommend talking to your GP and making sure that your asthma plan is up to date. That should be reviewed every year.”
“Good asthma control should mean no night-time asthma symptoms, no asthma symptoms on waking, no need for reliever/puffer medication due to daily correct use of a prescribed preventer inhaler, no restriction of day-to-day activities, no days off school or work due to asthma, and no asthma attacks or flare-ups,” Jane added.
“Preventers address the underlying lung inflammation, while short-acting puffers have no anti-inflammatory effects, so don’t treat the underlying inflammation or protect against preventable attacks.”2
Current Australian Asthma Guidelines recommend that adults and adolescents 12 years and over living with asthma should be swapped to an anti-inflammatory reliever (AIR) therapy that can be used as both a reliever and preventer, which means you only need one single device to manage your asthma.3 This is a combined inhaler that reduces inflammation and opens your airways longer than your standard over the counter relievers. If you or a family member is still using a reliever over the counter, speak to your Doctor to review your current asthma treatment.
Lifestyle tips to help asthma & allergy sufferers4:
· Stay indoors and keep windows closed on high pollen days, especially when it’s windy or after thunderstorms.
· Avoid high-exposure activities such as mowing grass or gardening.
· Shower and wash your hair after outdoor activities to remove pollen.
· Change clothes and wash your hair before bed to prevent pollen spreading to bedding.
· Dry clothes and bedding indoors or in a dryer.
· Use recirculated air in the car and air conditioning indoors during high pollen periods.
· Wear sunglasses (or a mask if needed) outdoors to reduce pollen exposure.
AusPollen Apps are also available to provide accurate local pollen information to help you plan ahead: www.pollenforecast.com.au - Opens in new tab
For more information, please speak to your Pharmacy 777 Pharmacist.
References:
1. Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA). (2025). Costly reactions: The economic and social cost of allergic disease in Australia. https://www.allergy.org.au/ascia-reports-economic - Opens in new tab
2. National Asthma Council Australia. (2023, August 31). Asthma preventers key to minimising preventable death. https://www.nationalasthma.org.au/news/2023/asthma-preventers-key-to-minimising-preventable-death - Opens in new tab
3. National Asthma Council Australia. (2025, September 16). New guidelines state SABA inadequate treatment for asthma. https://www.nationalasthma.org.au/news/2025/new-guidelines-state-saba-inadequate-treatment-for-asthma - Opens in new tab
4. Asthma Australia. Understanding asthma attacks & flare-ups in Australia. https://asthma.org.au/about-asthma/asthma-attacks/ - Opens in new tab
