Thunderstorms increase hay fever and asthma symptoms

Although many people associate rain with a reduction in pollen count, this is not always the case, warns airborne allergens expert, Max Wiseberg. He says: "Thunderstorms can actually

make hay fever worse and can even cause asthma attacks in people who have never had asthma before. "And it seems that a large proportion of people suffering asthma for the first time in

a thunderstorm have suffered with hay fever." New research has explored why this is. According to a report in The European Respiratory review, humidity breaks pollen grains into

smaller allergenic particles. So one pollen grain becomes two – thereby instantly raising the pollen count. Max says: "Storms cause great movements in the air, both bringing pollen

grains down which might have otherwise risen above head height out of harm’s way, and whipping up pollen grains and fungal spores near the ground. "To make matters worse, farmers will

often work hard to get their fields harvested before a storm which increases the level of spores in the air." But it's not just those living in the countryside who are at risk -

the thunderstorm can pick these allergens up and carry them for miles before dumping them at head height in the city. And when the air currents carry the pollen up into the more humid

atmosphere of the clouds, the pollen grains break up. Not only does this increase the number of pollen grains, but the broken pollen grains appear to be more allergenic than normal pollen,

causing more severe reactions. Max says it's important to be prepared and stock up on hay fever and asthma remedies during these weather periods.  He says: "Whether you prefer the

drug free organic pollen barriers produced by HayMaxTM, immune boosting bee products by unBEElieveable health, anti histamines – or all three – the reality is that you need to carry on using

them throughout your season."