Study finds asthma attacks worsen following thunderstorms

There’s a general rule of thumb that says on warm and windy days, pollen is high. Low pollen is expected when it’s rainy outside — but that’s not always the case.

It seems reasonable to think that rain would bring relief from allergy symptoms, after all, rain usually washes away anything that has collected in or on an area. However, thunderstorms can actually cause some allergy symptoms to worsen.

A study published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society in 2017 by researches at the University of Georgia, studied the role thunderstorm processes had in the 2016 asthma epidemic in Australia that left multiple people dead, and several residents seeking medical attention for respiratory illnesses.

Although thunderstorm asthma is very complex, the study found that thunderstorm updrafts, along with rainfall, winds, and lightning can worsen asthma symptoms when combined with pollen spores. During a thunderstorm, pollen in the air absorbs moisture and then explodes into tiny particles due to electrical activity. Winds then disperse the pollen back out into the air, which can easily be inhaled and trigger an asthma attack. It’s the high concentration of the pollen particles that can cause asthma attacks to potentially be life-threatening.

So what does that mean for us here in Mid-Missouri? Following storms this past weekend many Mid-Missourians may have noticed an increase in allergy and asthma symptoms, due to the already high pollen count across the region as many plants and trees continue to bloom.

The newest pollen outlook for the region shows that as we head into the coming days, the pollen count will continue to top out on the high side. This could pose a problem for those with allergy or asthma problems, as storms are set to arrive on the backside of this week.

While the study is exploring ways to predict thunderstorm asthma outbreaks days in advance, it’s always important to remember to stay weather aware. With allergy season growing more severe each year, there are some things you can do to alleviate most symptoms.

– Stay indoors when levels are high or very high, if you are sensitive to pollen.

– Wear a mask

– Wash your hair at night

– Take OTC allergy medicine daily.

– Keep windows closed during pollen season and run your central heating and air

– Wash sheets at least once a week

– Change and wash clothes worn during outside activities

– Limit close contact with pets

Stay with ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather as we continue to track the latest pollen conditions and follow us on Twitter @ABC17Stormtrack.