The beginning of October can be a sniffly one for many, with the start of grass pollen season generally lasting until the end of December.
Warmer weather, along with higher grass pollen levels and certain thunderstorms, can trigger an Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma (ETSA) event, leading to severe asthma attacks.
Thunderstorm asthma can cause serious health impacts for people with known and unknown conditions of asthma, with symptoms including an itchy and runny nose, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness.
Some of these symptoms can become very severe, very quickly, and may require urgent medical assistance.
Respiratory Clinical Nurse Consultant Asthma and Allergy Sharon Rukavina said the 2016 thunderstorm asthma event saw thousands of people having asthma attacks, some who had never presented asthma symptoms before.
“In Victoria, from October to December, thunderstorm asthma results from a combination of high grass pollen counts such as ryegrass, and specific weather conditions,” she said.
“Strong winds carry the pollen, while storms or moisture break open the pollen grains, releasing ultrafine particles into the air.
“These particles are small enough to penetrate the lower airways, potentially triggering severe asthma symptoms in those that are susceptible.
“A comprehensive review of the 2016 Melbourne thunderstorm asthma incident revealed that it primarily affected individuals sensitive to grass pollens.”
Ms Rukavina urged everyone to be able to recognise the symptoms of an asthma attack and to know the four steps of asthma first aid.
“It is very important not to ignore any symptoms of asthma such as wheeze, persistent cough, or unexplained breathlessness,” she said.
“Everyone should be able to recognise the symptoms of someone having an asthma attack and to know the four steps of asthma first aid.”
The four steps to recognising the symptoms of an asthma attack are as follows:
Step one: Sit person suffering the attack upright.
Step two: Shake the blue/grey reliever puffer and give them four separate puffs using a spacer if available.
Step three: Wait four minutes and give four more puffs if the person still cannot breathe normally.
Step four: Call an ambulance if they still cannot breathe normally and keep giving reliever puffs as above until an ambulance arrives.
To access daily forecasts for ETSA events, visit www.health.vic.gov.au/environmentalhealth/epidemic-thunderstorm-asthma-risk-forecast.
