Ngabe i-asthma yakho iye yake yasebenza ngesikhathi noma kungekudala ngemuva kwesimo sezulu esinesivunguvungu? Turns out, there’s a pretty good reason for that. Ukucwaninga namhlanje kuvumelana ukuduma kwezulu nokuhlaselwa okuba yingozi.
Odokotela e-University of KANSAS Medical Center bahlola imininingwane yoMnyango Wezimo Eziphuthumayo ezibhedlela endaweni. On days when there was a hurricane, they found, the average number of asthma-related visits was significantly higher than on non-hurricane days. The findings suggest that people with asthma should take extra precautions when thunder is quickly predicted, the researchers said.
The thunder is coming
There were reports of “Thundlarcrem Asthma” epidemics back in the 1980s, which seemed to mostly affect people with seasonal allergies, or hay fever. Kepha isigameko esimangalisa kakhulu kodwa sekwenzeka cishe eminyakeni eyishumi eMelbourne, e-Australia. In late November 2016, a thunderstorm appeared to trigger an asthma attack that sent more than 3,000 people to the emergency room, hospitalized nearly 500 residents, and killed at least 10.
Many studies have documented the condition around the world since, including some in the US according to Merheb, however, theirs is the first study to look at this meeting between climate and asthma in Wichita, Kansas, specifically. Importantly, Wichita is already known for having high seasonal pollen counts, and is currently a top-ranked city on the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s Assergy Foundation. “
The investigators analyzed five ER data sets from three hospitals in Wichita, from January 2020 to December 2024. These data were then cross-referenced with local meteorologic records.
In those five years, 4,500 asthma-related visits were documented, and 38 storm days occurred in the region, accounting for 2% of the total days during the study period. Kepha ukwehla 14,1% wabo bonke ukuvakasha okuhlobene nokuhlanya kwe-asthma kwenzeke kulezo zinsuku zesiphepho, abaphenyi bathola. On average, there were about 18 asthma-related visits per day during thunderstorms, compared to an average of three visits per day when there were no thunderstorms.
Ngasikhathi sinye, okutholakele kusanda kwakamuva nje ukuthola ukuxhumana phakathi kwalezi zinto ezimbili. “While this is inconclusive, it suggests that depressing conditions, such as wind changes or pollen dispersion, may play a role in flare-ups,” said Merheb.
What does this mean for people with asthma?
Given the findings of Merheb and others, it seems important for people with asthma to be more aware of the potential risk.
“For people living with asthma, we know that certain weather conditions can increase the risk, allowing for more effective management such as medication,” she said. “KwabaseDcicia, kuqinisa ukubaluleka kokuxoxa ngezingqinamba zezemvelo neziguli zabo njengengxenye yokunakekelwa kwesifuba esijwayelekile.”
According to sources, light rain shows may actually reduce people’s risk of seasonal allergies simply by cleaning up pollen from the environment. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, izimbangela zezulu lokuduma asthma zibonakala ziyinkimbinkimbi ngokwengeziwe. Previous research has suggested strong winds from thunderstorms can kick pollen or mold up into the air, while increased electrical activity or humidity during a storm can break down the pollen in extremely poor conditions.
Kepha ukufika kwesidundiso sedwa kukodwa akwanele ukukwenza njalo uhlobo lwe-southma surte ebonwe ngesikhathi somcimbi weMelbourne. Therefore, there is a need for research to find out the exact drivers of asthma-busthma-asthma-asthma- they want to do.
“We hope to build on these findings by looking more closely at local climate and environmental variables, things like wind data, humidity, and pollen data, to better understand what combination of factors can drive these events,” Merheb said.
Meanwhile, if you have asthma and see a thunderstorm on the way, that should give you more incentive to stay tight inside if you can.
