"Before the light rain, I will go out for a walk and feel my nose is very comfortable. But after this thunderstorm, I felt that I had difficulty breathing and had a short cough. " On September 4th, 43-year-old Mr. Zhang came to the clinic of Allergy Center of Beijing Shijitan Hospital. Through his symptoms and related examination results, Mr. Zhang was finally diagnosed as thunderstorm asthma.
On September 2nd, there was a sudden thunderstorm in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and other places. Many patients with asthma symptoms were admitted to local hospitals, and the disease of thunderstorm asthma immediately came into public view, causing concern. Recently, patients with thunderstorm asthma have appeared in Beijing.
What is thunderstorm asthma?
Pollen sufferers are susceptible to thunderstorm asthma, Wang Xueyan told reporters. Thunderstorm asthma refers to the acute attack or aggravation of bronchial asthma in or immediately after thunderstorm weather, which mostly occurs in pollen season. Patients with thunderstorm asthma will suddenly have wheezing and shortness of breath, and some will be accompanied by typical symptoms of asthma such as chest tightness or cough. In severe cases, there will be dyspnea, fainting and so on.
Why is it easy to cause asthma after thunderstorms?
Wang Xueyan said that thunderstorm weather can make the pollen concentration in the air rise rapidly in a short time, and the pollen will absorb water, swell and crack due to the huge humidity difference, releasing a large number of allergenic particles or fragments with smaller diameters. These particles or debris will return to the surface with the falling airflow or raindrops, and it is easier to enter the lower respiratory tract of people, leading to asthma attacks.
"Simply put, the gale before the thunderstorm will spread the pollen, which will be involved in the wet clouds. Pollen will' swell' when exposed to water, and lightning will' crush' these' swelled' pollen, making the pollen become smaller particles, and it is easier to enter the nasal cavity and respiratory tract of people, thus inducing asthma. " Wang Xueyan explained.
Wang Xueyan pointed out that patients with respiratory allergic diseases such as hay fever, allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma are susceptible to thunderstorm asthma. Early September is the peak of autumn pollen in northern China, and the main allergenic pollen floating in the air is the pollen of weeds such as Artemisia, Humulus/Cannabis. Their pollen is generally light and easy to spread.
"It is expected that after 2-3 weeks, the pollen quantity in the northern region will decrease." Wang Xueyan said, "In addition to pollen, mold may also be an allergen. Thunderstorm weather after being allergic to mold may also induce thunderstorm asthma. "
Good protection and standardized medication can prevent and treat thunderstorm asthma.
"Thunderstorm asthma can be prevented and cured, and there is no need to panic. Wang Xueyan said: "The treatment of thunderstorm asthma is similar to other respiratory allergic diseases, including oral antiallergic drugs and inhaled glucocorticoids. After correct treatment, the symptoms of patients can be relieved quickly."
Allergic rhinitis caused by pollen allergy is a high risk factor for thunderstorm asthma. Therefore, effective control of pollen allergy symptoms can greatly reduce the incidence of thunderstorm asthma.
Wang Xueyan suggested that for patients with pollen allergy, under the guidance of a doctor, a small anti-allergic medicine box can be prepared at home, and antihistamines, leukotriene receptor antagonists, bronchodilators, inhaled hormone drugs, etc. can be prepared to prevent thunderstorm asthma. Wear a mask and protective glasses when going out. After returning home, you can wash your nasal cavity with salt water, and take a bath and wash your clothes in time. In addition, you should also pay attention to the weather. If there is thunderstorm, try to avoid going out and remember to close the doors and windows. Once you have symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough, you should take medicine in time, and those with severe symptoms need to see a doctor in time.
"The severity of pollen allergy symptoms is related to the concentration of pollen, which has obvious seasonality and timeliness. Some mobile apps or online platforms will publish and update daily pollen-related data, and it is recommended that relevant patients pay attention. " Wang Xueyan said.
"At the peak of pollen, when the symptoms are obvious, patients can give priority to drug symptomatic treatment, supplemented by immunomodulation therapy; In the remission period, specific immunotherapy (desensitization therapy) should be the main method. " Wang Xueyan said that after the patient's allergen is identified, a small amount of incremental desensitization treatment can be taken to improve the patient's tolerance to the allergen, so that the patient's allergic symptoms can be alleviated or even stopped, and medication can be reduced or stopped.
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