Fall Cold Fronts: Friend or Foe to Those Living with Asthma?

 

Note:  I posted this article two years ago on another blog site.  I wanted to share this as it will be relevant to my next "Weather and Wellness Wednesday" entry!  

October 12, 2023

Louisiana was literally on fire this summer as most of the state faced extreme or exceptional drought conditions, and portions of central and southwest Louisiana experienced unprecedented wildfires. 2023 was Baton Rouge’s hottest summer on record with 32 days of temperatures reaching or exceeding 100F. Extremely high daytime temperatures, high overnight temperatures, and poor air quality (due to wildfire smoke and ground level ozone) resulted in health hazards for many Louisiana citizens.

So last week, when the first significant cold front of autumn passed through Louisiana, many welcomed it with open arms because it was forecast to bring cooler weather. In the days following the cold front, temperatures dropped, air quality improved, southeast Louisiana breathed a sigh of relief, and the unmistakable sounds of gumbo pots coming out of hibernation could be heard throughout the state. However, health effects caused by weather can be just as complicated as weather systems themselves! Cold fronts can ease some of the burdens of extreme heat, but they may also cause problems for those who have asthma.

Characteristics of cold fronts that may worsen asthma include:

• Sudden Temperature Changes:   A cold front is a zone between warm air and cold air.  Some cold fronts result in slightly cooler temperatures, but the passage of strong cold fronts can drop temperatures as quickly as 15-20 degrees in an hour!  Extreme temperature changes like these may result in bronchoconstriction- a tightening of the airways- in people living with asthma.
• Decreases in Humidity and Dewpoint:  Relative humidity and dewpoint temperature are measurements used to determine the amount of water vapor in the air.  When cold fronts move through an area, both humidity and dewpoint can fall rapidly, and the air can become very dry.  The dry air ushered in by the cold front that passed through Louisiana on October 6th resulted in a low humidity value of 19% on October 8th in Baton Rouge!  (For comparison, many find that the most comfortable humidity values are between 30% and 50%).  Air this dry can result in inflammation and tightening of the airways, which can lead to asthma attacks.  Additionally, some viruses, fungi, and bacteria may spread more easily in air that is less humid.  Respiratory illnesses caused by microorganisms can be precursors to asthma attacks.
• Strong Winds:  In the fall, grass and weed pollens haunt asthma and allergy sufferers.  When a cold front passes, the winds can become gusty and will typically shift from the southwest to the northeast.  These winds can transport pollen.  Thunderstorms may accompany a strong cold front, and research has shown that dynamics of thunderstorms can cause pollen grains to rupture and become very small. In “thunderstorm asthma”, these pollen grain fragments can be inhaled deep into the lower respiratory tract and result in acute asthma exacerbations.
• Atmospheric Pressure (maybe?):  As a cold front approaches an area, the atmospheric pressure in that area will usually fall (however, it will rise again after the cold front passes).  There has been research to study if atmospheric pressure changes could result in asthma attacks; however more research is needed to determine correlations.  Changes in barometric pressure have been known to affect individuals who suffer with other chronic conditions such as migraines, so relationships between atmospheric pressure and asthma warrant further study.

If you have asthma and are sensitive to the weather changes a cold front may bring, these tips can help you prepare:

1. Follow the forecasts:  Pay attention to weather, air quality, and pollen forecasts from trusted sources such as the National Weather Service, your local broadcast meteorologists, and airnow.gov .
2. Review your asthma action plan:  Your asthma action plan will help you to assess your symptoms and will guide the medical treatments/actions you should take to prevent asthma symptoms from worsening.
3. Carry quick acting medications:  Weather changes can cause asthma symptoms to flare suddenly.  If your doctor has prescribed a quick acting asthma medication, such as an albuterol inhaler, be sure to carry it with you at all times.
4. Dress appropriately:  On the day of a frontal passage, you may need to wear short sleeves in the morning, and wear a thick jacket later that afternoon!  Wearing a mask or scarf may protect you from breathing in cold, dry air.
5. Talk to your healthcare provider:   Be sure to tell your doctor and respiratory care team if the passage of cold fronts causes your asthma symptoms to flare.  Your healthcare providers may adjust your medicine to ensure that you stay healthy when the weather changes.

Are cold fronts hazardous to your health?  Do you take any special precautions when a cold front moves through?  Share your thoughts in the comments!