One surprising reason your hay fever is acting up so badly this spring

If your trusty supermarket-aisle saline spray is proving no match for this hay fever season (spring), you’re not imagining it. Experts say a myriad of factors are behind a surge in symptoms – including the influx of Bogong moths.

Even if you live outside NSW and have been spared the moth migration chaos, a cocktail of climate triggers is sending allergy levels soaring nationwide. To my fellow allergic rhinitis sufferers: don’t throw in the towel just yet. Here’s what you can actually do.

Wait. Is the moth situation really making hay fever worse?

Yes, but not for the reason you might think. The real issue, according to Asthma Australia director Nigel Cooper, is closing up the house to keep the critters out.

“When you shut the house up to keep the moths out, you’re also shutting in whatever is already floating around inside,” Cooper tells nine.com.au.

“For someone with asthma or hay fever, that can mean the place they go to escape pollen and other pollutants is where it’s building up.”

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Shutting windows and doors can leave pollen, dust, pet dander and cooking fumes trapped inside. Cooper also warns against reaching for insecticides, which can irritate people with asthma.

Why does this spring feel worse than usual?

Australia is currently in the grip of an El Nino climate driver, and Bupa GP Dr Janice Tan says the warmer, drier conditions it brings can spell trouble for hay fever sufferers.

While drier weather can reduce grass growth, it doesn’t necessarily reduce pollen levels.

“Hot, dry, windy days are when pollen is released and carried furthest, often from rural grasslands straight into our cities,” Tan says.

Grass pollen season across south-eastern Australia runs from October to December, so sufferers are currently right in the thick of it.

When thunderstorms roll through during high-pollen days, pollen can break into tiny particles that reach deep into the lungs.

“Attacks can be sudden and severe, and they can hit people with hay fever who have never been diagnosed with asthma,” Tan says.

So, what can you do about it?

Start by checking your local pollen forecast each morning, just as you would the weather, and limit your exposure when levels are high.

Tan recommends drying your washing indoors, showering and changing clothes after being outside, and using a saline nasal rinse. You can also put the car air-conditioning on recirculate, which can help while you’re on the road.

If your nose is dry, red and sensitive from constant blowing, pat, don’t wipe. Use soft tissues and a plain barrier ointment like petroleum jelly.

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For irritated eyes, Tan says to avoid rubbing them and use a cool compress or preservative-free eye drops.

At home, Cooper recommends regularly dusting with a damp cloth, vacuuming often, running the range hood while cooking, and using a HEPA air purifier.

And don’t assume you’ve missed your chance to get symptoms under control.

“It’s definitely not too late to prepare. A daily steroid nasal spray can take a week or two to work fully, so start now,” Tan says.

Please note the information in this story is general in nature. Please always consult your GP or health professional for advice that is tailored to your specific health concerns.