1 in 5 Irish people have hay fever (allergic rhinitis), a condition that causes inflammation of the nasal passages in response to otherwise harmless substances such as pollen, house dust mites or pet fur.
Hay fever can occur all year round or, for some people, only during the summer when certain types of pollen begin to circulate.
This can be a major problem for people with asthma, as the symptoms of hay fever (or the substances which trigger it) can also cause a flare-up of asthma symptoms.
Gardening with asthma or hay fever can be extremely uncomfortable when the pollen count is high, especially when it might be the pollen from the flowers and trees in your own garden causing the problem.
To help people with asthma get their green fingers back we’ve developed our Gardening with Asthma and Hay Fever booklet.
Top tips for gardening with asthma
- Check the pollen forecast before venturing outside. Try to stay indoors if the pollen count in your area is high.
- Shut all windows before gardening to keep dislodged pollen and dust out of your home.
- Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes.
- Put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen.
- Make sure your asthma is well controlled and take your regular preventer medication, as prescribed.
- Wear a hat to stop pollen getting caught in your hair and brush your hair after gardening.
- Shower, wash your hair and change your clothes if you have been outside for an extended period.
- If you have a skin allergy, keep your hands, arms and legs covered when gardening.
- Using an air purifier indoors can help reduce the airborne allergens present inside the home, even when the pollen count is high outdoors.