The connection between thunderstorms and respiratory illness

Visits to emergency departments from patients with respiratory illness increased in the day before thunderstorms, according to new research. Previous research has suggested that thunderstorms cause pollen grains to erupt when wet, causing those with asthma or allergies to have a severe reaction. But in the new study, which looked at weather data from 1999-2012 across the U.S. and combined it with Medicare data, scientists found that ED visits in this population peaked a day before thunderstorms hit. There were an average of six extra visits per million Medicare beneficiaries among those with asthma or COPD, and nearly 10 more visits among those with both. Changes in temperature and other fine particles in the atmosphere could explain these differences. As severe weather becomes more common, hospitals may expect added visits from patients affected by changes in weather patterns.