Is Hohhot experiencing thunderstorm asthma? One article understanding
September 3rd, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. After a rainstorm, local cough and asthma patients broke out, and the hospital was overcrowded.
A hospital's medical staff responded that it is due to the lightning effect caused by rain and pollen allergy. People with asthma and rhinitis tend to reject or react more strongly, and the specific situation depends on individual immunity, not infectious diseases.
According to Jimu News, on the morning of the 3rd, Jimu News reporters called several hospitals in Hohhot, and a hospital staff member said that there were indeed many asthma patients seeking medical treatment on the evening of the 2nd. Another hospital staff member stated that there are many patients who call to inquire about how to treat asthma.
A staff member of the Health Commission of Hohhot City told Jimu News reporters that on the evening of the 2nd, the number of patients with asthma "thunderstorm asthma" in multiple hospitals did increase. Hohhot has more Artemisia annua, so there are more patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma in spring and autumn. The rainstorm on the 2nd led to the increase of pollen and the number of patients.
Thunderbolt+pollen=thunderstorm asthma? Yes, two seemingly unrelated things combined really make for an allergic disorder.
【1】 What is thunderstorm asthma
Thunderstorm asthma refers to the acute onset of respiratory diseases such as asthma caused by thunderstorm weather. The symptoms are severe and the condition progresses rapidly, generally exhibiting a collective nature, with many patients experiencing symptoms simultaneously.
![Is Hohhot experiencing thunderstorm asthma? One article understanding](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/0a43717680669ad04d5ffcd3cdd87a45.jpg)
The earliest reports on thunderstorm asthma came from Birmingham, UK in 1983. The most severe thunderstorm asthma occurred in Melbourne in 2016, resulting in over 8500 emergency or hospitalization cases and 8 deaths.
Thunderstorm weather can not only cause acute attacks in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but also lead to asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath and wheezing in ordinary people.
【2】 Why thunderstorms exacerbate allergies
Thunderstorm asthma occurs during the pollen season.
Some studies suggest that cold air currents before thunderstorms can carry pollen or mold particles into the clouds. The moisture and lightning in the clouds cause pollen particles to burst, releasing smaller particles.
Pollen particles returning to the ground are easier to enter the respiratory tract due to their smaller size. Moreover, the strong electric field generated by thunderstorms may enhance the allergenicity of allergens released from pollen, posing greater harm.
Simply put, the strong wind before the thunderstorm brought pollen into the sky, and then the thunderstorm split the pollen into fragments.
![Is Hohhot experiencing thunderstorm asthma? One article understanding](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/a90c0db7f9985a0e712b7685045421a5.jpg)
These pollen fragments carry the amplification of the strong electric field generated by thunderstorms, and finally flexibly penetrate your nasal cavity, causing asthma.
【3】 How to prevent
Firstly, it is recommended to close doors and windows as much as possible and stay indoors during thunderstorms. More importantly, after a thunderstorm, even if it is sunny, one must stay indoors for a period of time. Because the evaporation of rainwater can bring a large number of small particles shattered by thunderstorms into the air.
Secondly, if a child has been diagnosed with allergic rhinitis or bronchial asthma, it is important to adhere to standardized medication and regular follow-up visits during the rainy season. You can also ask the doctor to prepare preventive and relief drugs for you in advance. Once an acute attack occurs, you can handle it yourself and seek medical attention as soon as necessary.
Finally, when returning from outdoors, you can rinse your nose and face with salt or water. If conditions permit, an air purifier can be used.