Victorians are struggling with worse hayfever and asthma conditions this year, with researchers warning pollen counts are higher than they have been in decades.
The Melbourne Pollen Count initiative, run by the University of Melbourne, forecast extreme grass pollen levels for much of the state on Wednesday and Thursday.
There was also a severe risk of thunderstorm asthma forecast on Wednesday for western Victoria, and a moderate risk for for the central and mallee regions.
Royal Melbourne Hospital director of research Professor Jo Douglass said high counts were increasing every year.
"This year there's been a lot of rain, so there's higher grass growth and high pollen counts," she said.
"The pollen counts are much higher than what has been recorded over the last decade.
Warm days, thunderstorms and high pollen counts increase the risk of thunderstorm asthma.
Ms Douglas said around one in five people suffered from hayfever, which put them at risk of asthma — and thunderstorm asthma, in the right conditions.
"If you have asthma and hayfever, you're particularly at risk of thunderstorm asthma, but if you just have hayfever you can also be at risk ," she said.
Hayfever medication sales boom
Bendigo pharmacist Andrew Law said he was seeing more first-time hayfever sufferers seeking medication.
"More people are spending time outside now, compared to spending the last two years inside," he said.
He said everyone was different and if one medication didn't relieve symptoms, a different brand with a different ingredient should be used.
"For watery eyes or runny nose, we always recommend a nasal spray first," he said.
The pharmacist urged anyone trying hayfever medication for the first time to seek medical advice.
Mr Law said the pharmacy had also heard of children and pets suffering from hayfever this year.
An action plan can help
Health professionals have urged people with asthma to have an action plan.
"Stay out of the storm front. The major risk is the thunderstorm … people should stay inside or in an air conditioned room," Ms Douglass said.
Melbourne Pollen Count coordinator Associate Professor Ed Newbigin agreed hayfever and asthma sufferers should stay inside on high pollen days.
"Avoid those gust fronts, which have lots of grass pollen in them and … can trigger the asthma event," he said.
