You may have heard that storms can make your joints ache. But they can exacerbate allergies and asthma, too! The wind and rain associated with summer rainstorms and thunderstorms can trigger allergy and asthma attacks in people who are most vulnerable. These attacks, called “thunderstorm-triggered asthma” or “thunder fever,” can range from uncomfortable to life-threatening in some people with Las Vegas allergies.
You may have heard that storms can make your joints ache. But they can exacerbate allergies and asthma, too! The wind and rain associated with summer rainstorms and thunderstorms can trigger allergy and asthma attacks in people who are most vulnerable. These attacks, called “thunderstorm-triggered asthma” or “thunder fever,” can range from uncomfortable to life-threatening in some people with Las Vegas allergies.
What is Thunderstorm Asthma?
Thunderstorm asthma occurs at the start of a thunderstorm and ends when the storm passes. It causes the most severe reaction in people with grass allergies, although it can affect people with various allergies to pollen and even mold.
Symptoms of Thunderstorm Asthma
Thunderstorm asthma comes on suddenly. Symptoms mirror those associated with acute asthma or allergy attack, including coughing, breathlessness, and wheezing.
How Thunderstorm Asthma Works
Understanding how thunderstorm asthma works begin by understanding the physiology of a thunderstorm. Thunderstorms consist of an updraft, which is rising air, and a downdraft, which is air that flows downward towards the ground. Meteorologists have several theories about how thunderstorm asthma occurs. The first is that the updraft in a thunderstorm collects large particles of pollen. Those particles may initially be too large to inhale. However, they get broken down when exposed to moisture such as rain or hail, which in turn can make them small enough to enter the lungs and airways. The smaller particles of pollen will cause problems in allergy and asthma sufferers if they are pushed downwards by the downdraft in a storm. Strong gusts of wind can also disperse pollen particles into the air, which triggers an allergic or asthmatic reaction. Some experts also believe that the rapid drop in temperature that often accompanies a thunderstorm can cause an allergic reaction.
Can You Get Relief From Symptoms?
Quite often, the hazards posed by thunderstorm asthma will pass with the storm. Rainfall can also help alleviate symptoms depending on the allergen involved. A steady light rain can wash pollen particles away. However, heavier rainfall won’t disperse weed, grass, mold, or dust spores.
Are You at Risk From Thunderstorm Asthma?
Although thunderstorm asthma causes frightening reactions in some people, it is not a common occurrence. Thunderstorm asthma has been reported for about 30 years. During that time, it has only produced a few large-scale outbreaks. Most outbreaks have occurred in Australia, although a few have been reported in the United States, too. At most, emergency rooms have reported a 3% increase in the number of visits following thunderstorm-induced asthma.
If you’re concerned about reacting from thunderstorm-induced asthma, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Tottori, an expert allergy doctor in Las Vegas. You can easily schedule an appointment by visiting our website or calling us at (702) 240 4233 today.