For Those 65 and Older, Thunderstorms Might Induce Respiratory Troubles, Study Says

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine looked at Medicare insurance claims and found a correlation between respiratory emergency room (ER) visits by people 65 and older and thunderstorms, reports the Seattle Times . During days prior to thunderstorms, Medicare beneficiaries' visits to the ER for respiratory ailments rose, especially among those with both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. There were 5.3 additional visits per million Medicare enrollees in the three days surrounding major thunderstorms, comprising some 52,000 additional ER visits in all. Although others have theorized that asthma can coincide with thunderstorms because rainfall could cause pollen particles to burst and become easier to breathe in, the current study does not suggest this possibility because most of the ER visits happened before storms. Instead, "rises in particulate matter concentration and temperature may be the dominant mechanism of thunderstorm-associated acute respiratory disease in older Americans," the authors wrote.