The National Asthma Council Australia (NAC) is encouraging Australians to protect themselves and their loved ones from the risk of thunderstorm asthma this grass pollen season.
Grass pollen season typically runs from the start of October until the end of December and brings with it a seasonal increase in asthma and hay fever and the chance of thunderstorm asthma*.
National Asthma Council Australia Director and respiratory physician Professor Peter Wark said the best defence that Australians with allergies and asthma can have as they head into pollen and thunderstorm asthma season is good day to day control of their asthma.
“The NAC has just released updated guidelines in the Australian Asthma Handbook which state that all adults and adolescents aged over 12 with asthma should have inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) containing treatment
“For people with mild asthma, the preference is for them to use an ‘anti-inflammatory’ reliever
“An anti-inflammatory reliever provides fast relief from symptoms as well as an important anti-inflammatory effect for the airways. This helps treat the cause of asthma, not just the symptoms.
“The aim of your asthma treatment should be to maintain good control of asthma symptoms and prevent flare-ups and using an anti-inflammatory reliever is the best way to achieve this.
“Relying only on a blue puffer, or needing it often, means you are at risk of severe asthma attacks, emergency department visits and hospital stays,” he said.
Professor Wark said the advice for adults and adolescents aged 12 years and over with asthma is to carry their anti-inflammatory reliever at all times and use it when they experience difficulty breathing, or before exercise, if needed.
“Now is the time to check in with your GP and ensure you are on the best treatment to control your asthma and to update your Written Asthma Action Plan so you know what to do during a spring thunderstorm or asthma emergency.
“Even people with hay fever who have never had asthma should see their GP if they experience symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing and tightness in the chest. These symptoms do not occur with hay fever alone,” he said.
Professor Wark said that people with hay fever and allergy to ryegrass pollen may be at risk of thunderstorm asthma - even if they have never had asthma symptoms before.
“People that are allergic to ryegrass pollen and have asthma could have a severe asthma attack if outside in gusty winds just before or during a thunderstorm in spring or early summer in a place where there is ryegrass pollen in the air. This includes most of south-eastern Australia,” he said.
If you have hay fever, Professor Wark advises that regular use of a nasal corticosteroid spray (a preventer for the nose) either alone or in combination with an antihistamine every day, at least during pollen season, is the best treatment to control allergy symptoms.
“If you have hay fever and asthma, treating your hayfever can also improve your asthma.
“Hay fever can cause upper and lower airway inflammation and result in itchy watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing, but even more concerning, hay fever can lead to an increased risk of serious asthma flare-ups,” he said.
Some thunderstorm asthma season tips from Professor Wark include:
Melbourne Pollen recently released their ‘Seasonal Outlook for the 2025 Victorian grass pollen season’ which suggests that the 2025 Victorian grass pollen season could be more active than last year.
Check out the Thunderstorm Asthma Fact Sheet or nationalasthma.org.au for more information.
Pollen forecasts are available via sensitivechoice.com
*In 2016, those affected by the devastating epidemic thunderstorm asthma included people with asthma or a past history of asthma, those with undiagnosed asthma and also people with hay fever who had not ever had asthma.
For further information or an interview with a National Asthma Council Australia spokesperson, please contact:
Donna Le Page, Le Page PR
Mobile: 0412 797 937 or Email: [email protected]
The National Asthma Council Australia is a collaboration of four member organisations (APNA, ASCIA, PSA and RACGP) and the national trusted authority for asthma knowledge. We set and disseminate the standards for asthma care through our responsive and evidence-based asthma guidelines - the Australian Asthma Handbook and resources for primary health care professionals. Our Sensitive Choice program empowers consumers to identify asthma and allergy-aware products and services.
