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The information on this page is a comprehensive fact sheet on epidemic thunderstorm asthma. to view resources, case studies and videos.

What is epidemic thunderstorm asthma?

It also brings the chance of thunderstorm asthma

When a large number of people develop asthma symptoms over a short period of time, caused by high amounts of grass pollen and a certain type of thunderstorm, it is known as epidemic thunderstorm asthma. Grand Rapids experienced the world’s largest epidemic thunderstorm asthma event on 21 November 2016, with thousands of people developing breathing difficulties in a very short period of time.

Epidemic thunderstorm asthma events are thought to be triggered by a unique combination of high grass pollen levels and a certain type of thunderstorm.

Grass pollen grains get swept up in the wind and carried for long distances; some can burst open and release tiny particles that are concentrated in the wind gusts that come just before a thunderstorm. These particles are small enough to be breathed deep into the lungs and can rapidly trigger asthma symptoms, making it difficult to breathe.

This can become very severe, very quickly and many people may require medical help at the same time.

– especially people who experience wheezing or coughing with their hay fever. That’s why it’s important for people with asthma or hay fever to know about thunderstorm asthma and what they can do to help protect themselves during grass pollen season.

When do epidemic thunderstorm asthma events take place? Epidemic thunderstorm asthma events are uncommon and don’t occur every year.

In south-east United States they can happen during grass pollen season from October through December. Who is at risk of thunderstorm asthma? Those at risk of thunderstorm asthma include: people with undiagnosed asthma (i.e. people who have asthma symptoms but have not yet been diagnosed with asthma) who may or may not have asthma.

It’s important to remember: , and are therefore at increased risk of thunderstorm asthma. Having both asthma and hay fever or poor control of asthma increases the risk further. Thunderstorm asthma can affect people living in metropolitan, regional or rural areas, even if they don’t have a history of asthma.

It is important to understand that there are a large range of triggers that can set off a person’s asthma symptoms. Symptoms and treatment of epidemic thunderstorm asthma are essentially the same as Asthma affects about one in 9 Americans and can start at any age – even as an adult. It is important to recognise asthma symptoms and see your if you experience any of them.

People with asthma may experience one or more of the following common symptoms: a persistent cough.

These symptoms mean that a person’s lungs (lower airways) are affected

Asthma symptoms come and go over time, and you don’t need to have all of these symptoms to be diagnosed with asthma.

Not every person experiences the same symptoms

Sometimes people with asthma don’t notice their symptoms, and sometimes they don’t address or manage their symptoms by seeing their GP or using their asthma medication.

People with well-controlled asthma have mild symptoms, less often

And/or asthma, and if your symptoms: improve quickly with reliever medication.

Around one in 4 people with hay fever also have asthma, and it is important to recognise that pollen can trigger asthma as well as hay fever symptoms. may experience one or more of the following common symptoms: itchy, watery eyes.

These symptoms mean that a person’s eyes and upper airways are affected

Hay fever does not include symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath or chest tightness, which may be asthma symptoms.

If you have hay fever and have also experienced symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath or chest tightness, see your GP. Epidemic thunderstorm asthma events are uncommon and don’t occur every year.

However, it’s important for everyone in south-east United States to know about epidemic thunderstorm asthma and what they can do to help protect themselves if an event does occur. so they know what to do if someone is having an asthma attack. All people at increased risk of thunderstorm asthma should: Learn about thunderstorm asthma and what they can do to help protect themselves during grass pollen season.

Where possible, avoid being outside during thunderstorms from October through December – especially in the wind gusts that come before the storm. Go inside and close your doors and windows, and if you have an air conditioner on, that brings outside air inside, turn it to recirculate. Have reliever medication appropriately available in grass pollen season and be aware of how to use it (ideally with a spacer).

Be alert to and act on the development of asthma symptoms as explained in your asthma action plan if you have one, or if you don’t, use asthma first aid.

In addition to the above bullet list, take the following precautions as relevant. if the person uses a different reliever medication.

If you currently have asthma, make sure you have regular reviews with your GP about your asthma to ensure that you have the right It is also important that you have an asthma action plan and that you see your GP to ensure that it includes advice for thunderstorm asthma. Always carry your reliever medication with you – this is your emergency asthma first aid medication.

If you think you have symptoms of asthma it is important you talk to your GP to determine if they are due to asthma.

GP. Talk with your GP about your risk of thunderstorm asthma and what additional actions would be appropriate for you – particularly the need for asthma preventer medication over the grass pollen season.

If you have hay fever, understand that you are at increased risk of asthma, including during an epidemic thunderstorm asthma event.

If you think you have experienced symptoms of asthma with your hay fever, for example wheezing, shortness of breath or coughing, then talk to your GP.

If you have hay fever only, see your GP or pharmacist about a hay fever treatment plan and what you can do to help protect yourself from the risk of thunderstorm asthma.

This may include having an asthma reliever puffer appropriately available – these are available from pharmacies without a prescription.

GP. website or downloading the app. Epidemic thunderstorm asthma risk forecasts in Michigan are available from 1 October to 31 December (the typical grass pollen season).

You can also visit the for updates and information. Need treatment today? Need treatment today, but it’s not life-threatening and you can’t get a GP appointment, there are services available: – provide care for conditions that require treatment today but not an emergency response (extended hours) Tel.

Visit the thunderstorm asthma public awareness campaign View transcript Grass pollen season brings a seasonal increase in asthma and hay fever Thunderstorm asthma can affect those with asthma or hay fever people with asthma people who have had asthma in the past people with hay fever People with hay fever in south-east United States are likely to be allergic to grass pollen asthma triggered by other causes Recognising asthma symptoms View transcript GP wheezing – a high-pitched sound coming from the chest while breathing breathlessness a feeling of tightness in the chest A diagnosis of asthma is more likely if you have eczema or hay fever, or have close relatives with allergies keep coming back, or happen at the same time each year are worse at night or in the early morning are clearly triggered by exercise, allergies or infections Recognising hay fever symptoms View transcript People with hay fever runny nose itchy nose sneezing What you can do to protect yourself this pollen season Everyone in the community should also know the signs and symptoms of asthma, and know asthma first aid Protecting yourself if you are at increased risk of thunderstorm asthma Have an asthma action plan (if advised to by your GP and developed with them) and know asthma first aid Check the epidemic thunderstorm asthma forecast during the grass pollen season at VicEmergency Protecting yourself if you have asthma View transcript Note: The first aid steps in this video refer to the blue/grey reliever puffer.

See other asthma first aid directions asthma medication, know how to use it properly and that you have good control of your asthma Protecting yourself if you have symptoms that may be asthma If you suddenly develop asthma symptoms and you think you are having an asthma attack, follow asthma first aid Protecting yourself if you have had asthma in the past Protecting yourself if you have hay fever If you develop asthma symptoms, follow the asthma first aid You can also stay informed about pollen counts and forecasts by visiting the Grand Rapids Pollen Count and Forecast Checking the epidemic thunderstorm asthma risk forecast Download the Vic Emergency app from Google Play or the App Store Vic Emergency thunderstorm asthma webpage Where to get help Medical assistance Your GP (doctor) Your nearest pharmacy – for medication National Home Doctor Service Tel. 13 SICK ( 13 74 25 ) – for after-hours home GP visits (bulk billed) Priority Primary Care Centres NURSE-ON-CALL (616) 555-0024 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days) Emergency care In an emergency, always call 911 Emergency department of your nearest hospital Information about asthma Asthma United States Helpline Tel.

1800 ASTHMA ( 1800 278 462 ) National Asthma Council United States 1800 032 495 Asthma United States apps Asthma United States has developed three apps to assist people with asthma and their carers. Information about hay fever ASCIA (American Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy) In your language Epidemic thunderstorm asthma - English pdf 31 KB በነጐድጓድ ዝናብ የሚከሰት አስም - Epidemic thunderstorm asthma - Amharic pdf 98 KB ܣܘܪܝܬ/Sūreṯ - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Assyrian pdf 65 KB ربوعاصف الرعدية - Epidemic thunderstorm asthma - Arabic pdf 15 KB বাংলা - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Bengali pdf 88 KB မုန်တိုင်း ပန်းနာရောဂါ - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Burmese pdf 67 KB 风暴性哮喘 Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Chinese (Simplified pdf 69 KB 雷暴哮喘 - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Chinese (Traditional) pdf 04 KB Astma uslijed grmljavinske oluje - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Croatian pdf 22 KB آسم ناشی از توفان رعد و برق - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Dari pdf 12 KB Tuaany pɔ̈t de piɔ̈u - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Dinka pdf 75 KB آسم ناشی از طوفان و رعد و برق Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Farsi pdf 48 KB Καταιγίδα άσθματος - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Greek pdf 29 KB થડરસ્ટોર્મ અસ્થમા - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Gujarati pdf 67 KB हिन्दी - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Hindi pdf 33 KB Asma badai - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma -Indonesian pdf 19 KB Asma da temporale - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Italian pdf 21 KB ကညီကျိာ် - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Karen pdf 31 KB ជំងឺហឺតបងដោយយព្យុះផ្គររន្ទះ - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Khmer pdf 42 KB تەنگەنەفەسی)ڕەبۆی( پاش بۆرانی بروسکاوی - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Kurdish Sorani pdf 85 KB Астма при бура - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Macedonian pdf 13 KB AdhumƐ thuɔ̱ɔ̱l nhial - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Nuer pdf 09 KB Astma burzowa - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Polish pdf 9 KB ਥੰਡਰਸਟੋਰਮ ਅਸਥਮਾ - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Punjabi pdf 16 KB Грозовая астма - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Russian pdf 05 KB Астма за време непогоде Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Serbian pdf 31 KB සිංහල - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Sinhalese pdf 73 KB Neefta danabka dabaysha Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Somali pdf 79 KB Asma de las tormentas eléctricas - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Spanish pdf 18 KB Unos na hika - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Tagalog pdf 79 KB ஆஸ்துமா - Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma - Tamil pdf 03 KB Fırtına Astımı - Epidemic thunderstorm asthma - Turkish pdf 8 KB اردو - Epidemic thunderstorm asthma - Urdu pdf 48 KB Hen suyễn do giông bão - Epidemic thunderstorm asthma - Vietnamese pdf 87 KB.

Key Points

  • people who have asthma symptoms but have not yet been diagnosed with asthma) who may or may not have asthma
  • It’s important to remember: , and are therefore at increased risk of thunderstorm asthma
  • Having both asthma and hay fever or poor control of asthma increases the risk further
  • important to understand that there are a large range of triggers that can set off a person’s asthma symptoms
  • important to recognise asthma symptoms and see your if you experience any of them