A sudden change in temperature, cold air, windy days, poor air quality and hot, humid days may all trigger sensitive airways in people with asthma.
Make sure your written Asthma Action Plan is up to date and:
- take your usual dose of reliever medication before going out on cold, dry days
- wear a scarf over your face in cold, windy weather to help warm the air before you breathe it in
- try to avoid going out in the middle of the day if it is hot and a high pollution day, and
- always carry your reliever medication with you
Take notice of health alerts and weather reports on the internet, radio, TV, and in newspapers. The Bureau of Meteorology has a page on its website dedicated to providing up-to-date thunderstorm warnings. The NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water also provides hourly information on air quality on its website.
Thunderstorms and asthma
Thunderstorms often combine heavy rain, high humidity and strong winds. During spring, the combination of pollen, moisture and rapid movement and changes in air pressure can lead to the bursting of pollen grains. This creates much smaller particles carrying the allergens that can be inhaled deep into the lungs (pollen itself is too large to be inhaled into the lungs).
In those who have not taken their asthma medications, this can lead to dramatic and serious asthma attacks. This phenomenon was originally shown to occur with rye grass pollen, but is now thought to occur with other grass pollens and perhaps some tree pollens as well. There is also some evidence that these smaller particles from pollens may occur after rain and that the wet conditions associated with thunderstorms and rain also greatly increase the amounts of fungal spores in the air.
If your asthma symptoms get worse during thunderstorms, it may be best to stay indoors with the windows closed if you are able to.
For more information about pollen, go to our asthma and pollen page, or download our Thunderstorms and Asthma brochure.
Catalyst ran a story in April 2011 on thunderstorm asthma which contains some useful information.
The video below is a story filed by Nine News reporter Gabriella Rogers on 12 November 2010 about the recent spike in asthma attacks caused by thunderstorms.