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For some this is an invitation to rush out and indulge our senses. But for others it heralds just one thing – hay fever.
Most of us relish the return of warmer weather and can’t wait to get outside and bask in the beautiful spring sunshine. But others just want to head indoors until the hay fever season is over.

One in five Australians will suffer the miseries of hay fever, as grasses, weeds and trees release tonnes of pollen into the air from September on.
Inhaling the microscopic pollen will cause itchy eyes, streaming noses, scratchy throats and sneezing in sufferers. But is it seasonal allergic rhinitis, perennial allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, or just plain old hay fever?
Just as there are many names to call a stuffed-up nose, there are also many solutions. Spend some time working through the confusing titles and find a solution that suits you.
Although many of us would label a congested, itchy nose as hay fever, there are differences between this seasonal allergy, all-year allergies and the pain and headaches of sinusitis.

Canberra allergy specialist Dr Raymond Mullins says it boils down to whether or not you have an allergic nose, or one that overreacts to allergens. Having an allergic nose can have profound effects for sufferers. For some, it’s not just an irritating sneeze or sniffle, but something that means they can’t sleep, work or learn properly because of the symptoms.

The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy says the incidence of hay fever has doubled over the last 25 years and estimates it accounts for up to 500,000 lost work days a year.
“People who have really severe symptoms find it really debilitating. They can’t sleep and they can’t function properly,” says Dr Mullins.
And many with an allergic nose will also find they have sinus trouble, with infection causing pain and headaches.

As Dr Mullins explains, sniffly noses arise because of your body’s attempts to fight off what it sees as an invader – whether that’s pollen, dust mites or mould.
“What happens is that your body is treating the pollen like an invader that’s doing you harm. What triggers the symptoms is your body’s response to it,” Dr Mullins says.
“An early reaction by the body is to release chemicals such as histamine into the tissues. That’s when you get the symptoms: the sneezes, the extra mucus, the swelling in the nose.”
If it’s a springtime experience, the condition is known as seasonal allergic rhinitis – or hay fever. It’s called this because it occurs at a certain time of year and is an allergic reaction, resulting in the inflammation of the passages lining the nose.

Pollen from grasses, trees and weeds causes most of the seasonal allergies. Different plants release their pollen at varying times, and the flowering season can run from September to as late as March.

Symptoms tend to be the classic watery mucus, sneezing, itchy eyes and itchy mouth. But some people may have perennial allergic rhinitis, which is similar to hay fever, but is caused by a reaction to something that’s in the environment most of the time. This would typically be dust mites, mould or pet dander (particles of pet fur or feathers). These people have symptoms all year, rather than when particular plants are flowering, and they tend to be worse at night and in the morning.

Untreated allergic rhinitis can lead to problems with the sinuses, which are cavities in the bones of the skull. There are a number of different sinuses in the face, above, below and behind the eyes, ranging in size from a grape to a golf ball. They are lined with membranes and produce mucus, which drains to the nose through narrow tubes. If these openings become blocked through swelling or mucus, the sinuses can’t drain properly. “We are not too sure what sinuses are supposed to do, but it’s suspected they make the skull lighter and help the voice to resonate,” says Dr Mullins.

Continued on Spring Is In The Air (Part II)