Like many types of weather phenomena, thunderstorms can be dramatic, prompting people to seek shelter to make them safe and secure. For persons with bad allergies or asthma, stormy weather can be more than an annoyance since it can seriously threaten their health in an event known as thunderstorm asthma.
What is Thunderstorm Asthma?
Thunderstorm asthma is when asthma symptoms occur from high pollen levels due to a thunderstorm. This event can be life-threatening and may affect people who have never been diagnosed with asthma.
It was found that thunderstorm asthma requires particular weather conditions since they rarely occur in times of high pollen levels that can leave severe health impacts. If the conditions needed for thunderstorm asthma occur near a highly populated area, then many people can be affected suddenly and simultaneously.
Also known as 'thunder fever' or 'pollen bomb,' thunderstorm asthma was first recognized in 1983 in Birmingham, England, and in 1987 in Melbourne, Australia. Since then, several other cases have been reported in England and Italy. When a large number of people develop asthma symptoms over a short period due to high amounts of grass pollen and a certain type of thunderstorm, it is known as epidemic thunderstorm asthma.
The world's largest epidemic thunderstorm asthma event happened in Melbourne, Australia, on November 21, 2016. In just a very short period, a large number of people developed breathing difficulties during a thunderstorm, killing eight people and sending more than 8,000 individuals to the emergency room.
The actual cause of the pollen bomb is still not fully understood. Experts believe that moisture in the air during a thunderstorm swells pollen grains. As these swollen particles burst, they generate fragments of pollen, which are too small to be breathed deep into the lungs.
The symptoms associated with thunderstorm asthma are essentially the same as asthma triggered by other causes. These include persistent cough, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, and wheezing. These symptoms can escalate quickly and become life-threatening since they indicate that a person's lower airways are affected.
Protecting Oneself From Risks of Thunderstorm Asthma
Pollen bomb events are uncommon and do not occur every year, although certain groups of people are at increased risk of thunderstorm asthma. This phenomenon can affect people living in metropolitan, regional, or rural areas, even if they do not have a history of asthma.
People with hay fever should understand that they are at increased risk of asthma, including during a thunderstorm asthma event. Those who currently have asthma must always carry their reliever medication with them since it will serve as their emergency asthma first aid medication.
If possible, those at risk should avoid being outside during thunderstorms, especially in the wind gusts before the storm. They are advised to stay inside with closed doors and windows.
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