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Spring has a way of announcing itself. The grass starts growing, pollen seems to find its way everywhere, and suddenly the tissues are back on the table. For someone with asthma, though, seasonal allergies can mean more than a few itchy eyes and sneezes. You may notice more coughing, wheezing or chest tightness and start wondering whether your asthma management plan still reflects how you are feeling now.
If you have been searching for an asthma action plan online, it is worth knowing that an action plan is personal to you and should be discussed with a doctor. It can help you understand what to do when your asthma is well controlled, when symptoms begin to change, and when you may need urgent medical care. Spring can be a useful reminder to check whether your plan still suits your current needs.
Why can hay fever affect asthma?
Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, and asthma are closely linked. Pollen is one of the airborne allergens that can trigger asthma symptoms in people who are sensitive to it. Australian asthma guidance also recognises seasonal allergic rhinitis as an important risk factor for thunderstorm asthma.
That means spring may bring more than a runny nose for some people. You might notice coughing, wheezing or chest tightness becoming more troublesome around the same time as your hay fever.
Managing allergic rhinitis can form part of good asthma care. The right approach varies from person to person, so it is worth discussing your symptoms with a doctor if your usual seasonal pattern starts changing.
Read: Hay Fever Not Improving: When To Change Your Treatment
What is thunderstorm asthma in Victoria?
If you live in Victoria, you may have heard the phrase thunderstorm asthma during spring. The term refers to asthma symptoms that can be triggered when certain thunderstorms occur during periods of high grass pollen.
Victoria has a dedicated epidemic thunderstorm asthma risk forecast that runs during the grass pollen season, typically from 1 October to 31 December. The forecast combines grass pollen information with weather conditions and is available through VicEmergency. The Victorian Government developed this program following the major Melbourne thunderstorm asthma event of 21 November 2016.
A higher forecast means the conditions associated with an epidemic thunderstorm asthma event are more likely. It does not mean that an asthma attack will definitely happen. On higher-risk days, Victorian health advice encourages people at risk to follow their asthma action plan, take their prescribed medicines as directed and consider avoiding outdoor exposure during gusty winds and storms.
When should you update your asthma action plan?
An asthma action plan is more than a piece of paperwork. It gives you personalised instructions about your usual asthma management, how to recognise worsening symptoms and what to do if your asthma becomes more difficult to control.
The Australian Asthma Handbook recommends reviewing a written asthma action plan every year and whenever there is a significant change in treatment or asthma status. A review may be particularly useful if:
- your asthma symptoms have changed
- you have had an asthma flare-up
- your treatment has recently changed
- you are finding your usual management harder to follow
- you have questions about your action plan
- seasonal allergies seem to be affecting your asthma
Your doctor can check whether the instructions, medicines and contact details in the plan still match your current situation.
Can telehealth help with an asthma review?
If your asthma is stable, a telehealth asthma check can be a convenient way to speak with an Australian doctor without travelling to a clinic.
During a real-time consultation, you can talk about recent symptoms, seasonal triggers, how you have been managing your asthma and whether anything has changed since your last review. Your doctor can also discuss your existing action plan and whether an updated plan or further assessment may be appropriate.
For some people, this can make routine asthma care easier to fit around work, study and everyday commitments. It can also give you an opportunity to raise questions before spring symptoms become more troublesome.
If your doctor feels that an in-person examination would be more suitable for your situation, they can discuss the next step with you.
What about repeat prescriptions?
It is understandable to look for a repeat prescription inhaler online when your usual treatment is running low, particularly before a busy allergy season.
However, a previous prescription from your GP, hospital or emergency department does not automatically mean another doctor will issue the same prescription. The doctor needs to consider your current health, treatment history and whether continuing the treatment is clinically appropriate.
A review can also be a useful opportunity to check whether your asthma management is still working well for you, rather than simply continuing an older prescription without discussing how things have been going.
When is telehealth not the right option?
Telehealth can be useful for some routine asthma reviews, but it is not suitable for every situation.
If you are having significant difficulty breathing, your symptoms are worsening quickly, you are struggling to speak because of breathlessness, or your usual asthma treatment is providing little or no relief during an attack, urgent medical care is needed. Healthdirect advises calling 000 or going to the nearest emergency department when severe asthma symptoms are present.
A simple spring check-in
You do not need to wait until spring symptoms become difficult before thinking about your asthma plan. A quick check of when your plan was last reviewed, whether your symptoms have changed and whether you understand what to do if they worsen can help you prepare for the season.
If hay fever and asthma seem to be arriving together this year, it may be worth talking with your doctor about how they fit into your overall asthma management.
For a routine asthma review, action-plan update or discussion about seasonal symptoms, you can speak with an Australian doctor online to discuss your symptoms and suitable next steps.
Disclaimer: This article provides general health information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing severe difficulty breathing, rapidly worsening asthma symptoms, significant difficulty speaking because of breathlessness, or little or no relief during an asthma attack, seek urgent medical care.
References:
- Department of Health. Victoria, Australia. (2026a, February 3). Improved protection for Victorians this Thunderstorm Asthma season. health.vic.gov.au.
https://www.health.vic.gov.au/news/improved-protection-for-victorians-this-thunderstorm-asthma-season - Department of Health. Victoria, Australia. (2026b, June 16). Epidemic thunderstorm asthma risk forecast. health.vic.gov.au.
https://www.health.vic.gov.au/environmental-health/epidemic-thunderstorm-asthma-risk-forecast - Educating adults and adolescents to manage their asthma. (2025, September 15). Australian Asthma Handbook.
https://www.asthmahandbook.org.au/management/adults-and-adolescents/principles-of-management/educating-adults-and-adolescents-to-self-manage-asthma - Healthdirect Australia. (n.d.). Asthma attack management. Action Plan, Inhaler | Healthdirect.
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/asthma-attack-management - Thunderstorm asthma. (2025, September 1). Australian Asthma Handbook.
https://www.asthmahandbook.org.au/clinical-topics/thunderstorm-asthma
Reviewed By: Dr. Momal Ahmad.
