Nina Droff / Photo credit: NICHOLAS ORCHARD / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP
Several dozen people were taken to the emergency room this weekend following the storms, for severe asthma attacks. If the phenomenon, called storm asthma, is quite rare, it mainly affects people allergic to pollen. But why do these crises exist? Europe 1 has looked into the matter.
Violent storms are increasing in France. The high temperatures of the past few days favor these meteorological episodes, which are sometimes impressive. As a result, the rescue and emergency services were very mobilized, especially last weekend to intervene on floods, but also, and this is quite surprising, on severe asthma attacks in patients allergic to pollens. These attacks are called “storm asthma”. But why do these crises exist? Europe 1 takes stock.
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These asthma attacks are triggered by the combination of two meteorological phenomena: a high concentration of pollen in the air and thunderstorms at the moment. In France, the level of pollen in the air is very high. During thunderstorms, these pollens are sucked into the clouds by the wind. But with lightning and turbulence, these break up into very small particles of pollen which will lodge much more easily and much deeper in the lungs. This is what causes these severe asthma attacks in people with allergies, sometimes even in people who have never had asthma before.
Pulmonologists therefore recommend that patients use their emergency treatment or increase the doses of their long-term treatment during these stormy periods. It is also advisable to wear the mask outside and to close your windows tightly when you are inside.