Managing asthma can become more difficult over the summer months because of hay fever, the Asthma Society of Ireland has said.

Currently, around 376,000 people with asthma in Ireland also have hay fever, which is an allergic reaction to pollen. While most are affected by grass pollen, pollen from trees and flowers can also be a problem for some sufferers. Symptoms can include a runny nose, watery/itchy eyes, sinus pain, sneezing, coughing and headaches.

However aside from this, hay fever symptoms can also cause asthma to flare up. In some cases, these flare-ups can lead to serious asthma attacks.

Hay fever season runs from April to September, with May, June and early July considered peak season. In an effort to help people with asthma and hay fever, the Asthma Society of Ireland has teamed up with Dyson Ireland and GSK to launch its pollen tracker.

The tracker provides an update of pollen levels across the four provinces each day, and a predictor of the pollen levels for the following day.

According to the Asthma Society's CEO, Sarah O'Connor, hay fever ‘is very misunderstood' in Ireland.

"People often dismiss you as a hypochondriac or simply a complainer when you mention it. As a hay fever sufferer, I can testify that it is a very debilitating condition that leaves you feeling really miserable and unwell.

"The constant runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing are extremely distracting, and the accompanying headache and fatigue have always really marked out the summer months for me. Hay fever makes it difficult to focus, not to mention making people self-conscious when in work or in company," she explained.

However, the pollen tracker can help people to manage the two conditions better by allowing them to identify days when the pollen count will be high in their area. Tips on how to manage hay fever are also available on the society's website.

"Research suggests that up to 80% of people with asthma notice a worsening of symptoms due to allergies such as pollen. I see a drop in asthma control among my allergic asthma patients during hay fever season, which leaves them at risk of a more serious asthma attack. It is vital that all asthma patients with pollen or grass allergy have an asthma action plan and prepare for the hay fever season to limit its effects," commented the society's medical director, Dr Marcus Butler.

For tips on how to deal with hay fever, or to view the pollen tracker, click here