Spring brings pollen alarm: Allergy sufferers have to be careful now!

Spring brings pollen alarm: Allergy sufferers have to be careful now!

After an extremely warm and dry winter, the pollen season in Austria started earlier than expected - a nightmare for allergy sufferers! The first hazel and alder pollen were registered in eastern Austria in mid-January, as Lukas Dirr, head of air quality analysis at the Austrian Pollen Information Service, reports. But the changeable weather in February initially slowed the pollen count. However, with the rise in temperature in the first week of March, there was a dramatic increase in pollen concentration, which intensively increased the symptoms among allergy sufferers. This development is particularly worrying as more and more people worldwide are affected by allergies and symptomatic diagnoses are increasing.

Allergy sufferers must prepare for allergy exposure to hazel and alder pollen by the end of March and beginning of April. Ash tree flowering, which occurs between mid-March and mid-April, is expected to increase health impacts. In particular, the birch blossoms, which occur every two years, will start earlier this year. While a below-average pollen season is expected this year, allergy sufferers may still face increased exposure, especially when grass blooms peak in May. According to the pollen calendar, up to five different plant species are active at different times of the year, which represents a year-round challenge for allergy sufferers allergycheck.de.

Early treatment and new technologies

Experts expressly warn about the health risks that an untreated allergy can bring with it - including the risk of developing chronic asthma. Dr. Fritz Horak, medical director of the Allergy Center Vienna West, emphasizes how important early diagnosis and targeted allergy treatment are. The Austrian Pollen Information Service offers important support for allergy sufferers through comprehensive data analysis and precise pollen forecasts. With digital applications such as the Pollen+ app or the “Insider PollenPodcast”, those affected can track their pollen count and better manage their symptoms. These technologies enable tailored information to be provided, which is of great benefit to all allergy sufferers, while the pollen season can last into October, as current surveys suggest.