Spring is embraced by most, but for many people the season means sneezing, wheezing, runny noses and itchy eyes, the uncomfortable symptoms of asthma and allergies.

Busting the old myths
As a long-time asthma sufferer, author Thomas Keneally says that when he was a boy, doctors believed children had asthma attacks because their mothers were neurotic. "Of course they were neurotic, their children couldn’t breathe!" he said. 

This myth has dispelled but while the reason people develop asthma is still unclear, evidence suggests it can be due to family history and exposure to cigarette smoke at an early age. Pollen floating in the air is also believed to cause asthma attacks.

Triggers of asthma
During spring and summer the pollen count rises as plants are reproducing.

Many species of weeds, grasses, trees and heavily flowered European imports rely on the wind to spread pollen, bad news for asthma and allergy sufferers.

 

Plants to avoid
Allergies can be reduced if you keep the garden weed-free. The worst offenders are plantain, Paterson’s curse, pellitory, ragweed, rhus tree, and privet if it’s fl owering.

Grass can also have an effect. Avoid ryegrass and choose from among buffalo, kangaroo grass or Greenlees couch instead.