Chongqing Thunderstorms 6,000 Times in One Night, “Thunderstorm Asthma” Patients Overwhelm Emergency Room.

Recently, Chongqing has experienced thunderstorms in several areas. According to the meteorological department, as of 6 am on April 11th, there were over 6000 instances of thunder and lightning activity throughout the night in Chongqing. More than a hundred people developed “thunderstorm asthma” as a result, leading to overcrowding in local major hospital emergency departments.

Amidst the rumbling thunder, emergency departments of major hospitals in Chongqing also went through an unusually busy night. In the early morning of April 11th, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University saw a total of 310 “thunderstorm asthma” patients within just 4 hours. The Emergency Room of Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital also treated over 120 similar cases.

Reported by “Upstream News,” Ms. He, who resides in Jiangbei District of Chongqing, had previously suffered from rhinitis. In the early morning of April 11th, amidst the storm outside, Ms. He immediately developed coughing symptoms that worsened, stating, “Sudden difficulty in breathing, coughing getting increasingly severe, couldn’t sleep at all, so I rushed to the hospital’s emergency department.”

Upon examination, it was determined that Ms. He had experienced an acute respiratory reaction due to the thunderstorm weather.

Dr. Luo Zhenchun, Chief of the Emergency ICU at Nanqiao Monastery Division of Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, explained that from 1 am to 4 am, the department had also treated over 120 “thunderstorm asthma” patients. Dr. Luo stated, “Thunderstorm asthma” is caused by the intense convection of air due to thunderstorm weather, leading to a sudden increase in concentrations of suspended particles such as dust and pollen in the air, causing discomfort in the respiratory tract upon inhalation.

Dr. Zhao Lin, Deputy Chief of Emergency Medicine Department at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, mentioned that the cold air and strong winds preceding thunderstorms can carry pollen and mold particles into the clouds, where moisture and lightning can cause them to burst, releasing smaller particles. These smaller pollen particles can easily enter the human respiratory system, triggering thunderstorm asthma. It is understood that seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by pollen allergy is the most sensitive risk factor for thunderstorm asthma; the prevalence of seasonal allergic rhinitis among thunderstorm asthma patients ranges from 60% to 99%.

Shanxi has also been affected by strong windy weather. Many residents have adopted coastal typhoon defense methods by buying adhesive tape and sticking it in the shape of the Chinese character “米” on glass doors and windows. Due to the high demand, sales of adhesive tape in Datong City, Shanxi Province have surged recently, with many businesses and online stores reporting stock shortages.