Wales is bracing itself for heavy thunderstorms throughout Tuesday and Wednesday which are set to bring torrential rain, frequent lightning and even hail. But what many people don't realise is that such weather events in the summer can be particularly hazardous for people's asthma and can trigger severe attacks.
Allergy specialist Dr Sophie Farooque said that people who suffer with hay fever and are allergic to grass pollen are at risk, even if they've never had an asthma attack before. She explained on Twitter: "Normally pollen - and moulds such as Alternaria - are too large to enter the lungs. But when a thunderstorm is brewing, updrafts of air can lift whole pollen grains up into the clouds. When exposed to moisture, these grains rupture into tiny pieces making them highly allergenic.
"Windy downdrafts then carry these fragments to ground level, resulting in a 'pollen shower' where people can inhale the minute fragments deep into their lungs, triggering an asthma attack."
She added that although grass pollen levels are falling, weed pollen levels remain high as are levels of Alternaria which are found in soil and on plants, cereal grains, grass and rotten wood. "Grass and weed pollens and Alternaria can all cause thunderstorm asthma," she said.
Dr Farooque has urged people who believe they might be susceptible to thunderstorm asthma to stay indoors and close windows and doors before the storm arrives. "If you have to go outside, wear a mask," she added. "If you experience an asthma attack, take antihistamines. Good control of asthma and hay fever reduces the risk - if you are prescribed a regular 'preventer' inhaler, take it.
"If you do develop a sudden severe asthma attack, take four puffs of your 'reliever' inhaler, and wait four minutes if no improvement. If two sets of our puffs doesn't help, call 999 and continue to take four puffs of your reliever every four minutes until help arrives."
Since first formally recorded in 1983, there have been instances where thunderstorm activity has been linked to increases in people reporting symptoms of asthma and seeking medical attention for issues with their breathing. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) last noted an uptick in people reporting asthma symptoms during a thunderstorm last June. For more information on that latest Met Office forecast for Wales please go here.
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