Weather causes a pollen explosion which causes asthma?

[peter]

After a number of years asthma free this year my wife has had an abrupt and severe re-currance.

When she went to see the Doctor about this she was told, "We have seen a lot of people with severe problems this year, we can not see any common factor, but believe that the weather pattern this year has caused all the allergenic (implicit in their words) pollen producers to flower together and abruptly."

Any thoughts, people?

[retropants]

Hello Peter, I really sympathise with your wife, and agree with the GP. I have had the most chronic hayfever that I can remember from mid February and it continues. It has been at it's worst during April and May. To concurr with the Doc, me and my mum have noticed that all the fruit trees on the plot are literally falling over with the amazing amount of blossom this year. So if all the allergenic trees (birch, oak, ash etc) are similarly laden with catkins, flowers etc this year, that would go some way to explaining the nightmare myself and countless others are enduring right now. Thankfully the rain this weekend has helped a little.
Hope you wife feels better soon,
a very sneezy retropants !

[lizzie]

Have to agree. My mums astma has been ok during the winter but, the last few months, it's really starting to play her up. Her quack said much the same thing.

Does anyone think there are any veriations of this around the country? Are people in urban areas affected more than rural dwellers or is there no difference?

[Chantal]

Tim has very bad hayfever at the moment whereas I am absolutely fine. I get asthma too on very rare occasions but have no sign of it at the moment.

[fuchsia]

Hi
I have had really sore eyes this year and my asthma has acted up again I do hope this doesnt last too long
Fuchsia

[peter]

See the media about the cloud of Danish Birch pollen crossing the North Sea?

Really kills that b*//*[&$ about GM pollen not travelling more than 100 metres doesn't it.

[Geoff]

I'm not convinced hay fever and asthma are the same thing. I started to get hay fever after one year when we had hyacinths in the house, I'm suffering at the moment as we live among bluebell woods that are absolutely magnificent this year. I agree that every blossoming tree is going mad, apples are just coming to their best and I've never seen such good bird cherry. If things keep it up the hawthorn will be overpowering soon.
On the other hand I believe the plague of asthma that has struck the country in recent years is caused by all the artificial scents in everything like all cleaning materials and those abominable automatic air fresheners - polluters more like, they should be banned.

[peter]

those abominable automatic air fresheners - polluters more like, they should be banned.

You have my vote on that.

[Chantal]

That has my vote too. I won't have the stuff in the house, I open the windows instead. We all object to chemicals sprayed on what we eat, so why spray it on what we breathe?

[Tigger]

Hmmmnnnnn. OH has had what seems like a full blown cold since December 10th - it's marked on our calender as it is such a rare event.

He's never had hay fever or asthma. Hasn't had true flu. Gets the odd severe cold, but nothing more.

He's had antibiotics, steroids and various combination sprays. Nothing has worked and he's now given up anything that requires any sense of smell, so the wine tasting club is one short.

Is this year a bit peculiar?

[Chantal]

My neighbours were the same and the three of them had a "cold" which lasted from November to around the end of March. Having said that, they do get colds for longer than most people as they never open the windows (in case the cat gets out) and open the doors like an air lock, two doors front and back and only one open at a time (in case the cat gets out). Germs get taken in there and have no chance of escape!

The cat incidentally is a house cat that does go out in the garden, but only on a lead.