Yesterday, Melbourne endured a clammy, 38 degree day (in fact, it was the hottest day since March). So far, so Melbourne. But what followed was a combination of extreme pollen levels and a thunderstorm – a pairing that saw a city-wide surge in asthma attacks and breathing issues.
Hospitals were overflowing with patients all reporting the same symptoms: shortness of breath, tightness of the chest, coughing and wheezing. Many hospitals and pharmacies claim to have run out of Ventolin puffers. Ambulance Victoria emergency operations general manager, Mick Stephenson, told the ABC that there were 2,000 calls to 000 in the five-hour window between 6-11pm – a sevenfold increase.
So what is 'Thunderstorm Asthma' and why was Melbourne under fire? Under normal circumstances, grass pollen is too large to enter the airways of the lungs; typically, it will linger in the nostrils and trigger bouts of sneezing and sniffling. When a thunderstorm hits, pollen particles absorb moisture and fracture into tiny particles. When inhaled, these extra-tiny particles can trigger an asthmatic reaction in those who typically suffer an allergy to grass pollen.
Air quality across Melbourne has since improved, but health professionals advise that hay fever and asthma sufferers keep blue puffers and antihistamines handy.