Pollen PROBLEM

Suffering from hayfever? We asked a GP for tips on how to breathe without the sneeze

- Elaine Obran

The longer days, warmer temps, fresh blooms and scent of flowers in the air can only mean one thing: we've officially entered spring – and, with it, hayfever season.

Far more than just a reaction to pollen, hayfever can bring a range of debilitating symptoms, from itchy red eyes and a scratchy throat, to sneezing, headaches and fatigue.

While it might feel like something you have to seasonally suffer through, Dr Michael Wright, the president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, says that, in fact, there are plenty of ways to manage symptoms – so you can have your cake and sniff your flowers, too.

HAY HURDLES

While hayfever affects people right across Australia, some regions are hit harder than others. According to Dr Wright, Melbourne and Canberra have some of the highest pollen counts in the country – primarily due to grasses, rather than flowers.

"Hayfever is triggered by pollen, which is released as plants flower. But the most common cause in Australia is often related to grasses – and in particular ryegrass," Dr Wright says.