Pollen allergy Threatening shortness of breath during thunderstorms

Allergy sufferers should stay in the house after thunderstorms about 30 minutes

19/07/2013

Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall can have a very unpleasant effect on people with pollen allergy. „In the context of heavy summer storms, it is often possible to detect increased pollen concentrations and thus an accumulation of asthma attacks and allergic reactions which have to be treated in hospital“, warns the German Society for Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine in a recent press release (DGP).

During the summer, many people with allergies suffer more from hay fever, with rain, according to the DGP actually considered a relief blessing, „because it cleanses the atmosphere, so that the air after a rain shower usually contains less pollen and particles than before.“ But this does not apply immediately after a thunderstorm or heavy downpour. Here, hayfever patients should better stay for twenty minutes to half an hour in the house, explain the experts of the DGP. In particular, in people with asthma, but also in the pollen allergy in general, otherwise increase the risk of acute respiratory problems.

Osmotic shock of pollen grains leads to respiratory distress attacks during thunderstorms
Professor Dieter Köhler from the scientific advisory board of the DGP explained, citing the research work of Prof. Dr. med. Gennaro D'Amato from the University Hospital of Naples, which effect causes the significant increase in pollen concentration in the first 20 to 30 minutes after a heavy downpour. According to Köhler, heavy rains during the pollen season lead to a so-called osmotic shock in the pollen grains. „They swell up, are carried by the rain from higher altitudes near the ground, burst there and release a high concentration of allergens, which are whirled around by the wind and inhaled by people on the street“, reports the expert. In addition, be „the allergens from the broken pollen grains are much smaller than the pollen itself - and therefore also respirable.“

Pollen allergy sufferers should be aware of the risk of thunderstorms
For allergy sufferers, the thunderstorm therefore sometimes results in an acute deterioration of their health. Not just in asthmatics, but „Even in pollen allergy sufferers who only suffer from allergic rhinitis (runny nose), high allergen concentrations can aggravate the symptoms and may trigger respiratory distress“, reports the DGP. Vulnerable persons should be aware of the potential risks in a storm and „in case of approaching thunderstorms, stay in the house and close the windows“, warn the experts. If they are surprised by a thunderstorm, allergy sufferers should protect their respiratory tract by inhaling through a cloth through the nose and exhaling via the mouth without a cloth, explains Professor Köhler. So be prepared as soon as possible a shelter, like to visit a building or car, „- to protect against the allergen releasing rain - to wait for the storm for at least half an hour“, the expert recommends. (Fp)

Also read about pollen allergy:
Hay fever alert: Pollen allergy sufferers now
The pollen season comes with concentrated power
Protective measures against hay fever
Natural healing: ear acupuncture
Warning about Ambrosia pollen
Hypnotherapy: Therapy in hypnosis
Therapy options for bronchial asthma

Picture credits: Stefan Heerdegen