The impact of sudden rain on respiratory health

The rising instances of sudden downpours are becoming a common occurrence these days. Where getting drenched in the untimely rain at times cannot be avoided, it can give rise to a host of health problems in a person and can specifically impact their respiratory health. Accompanied by changing humidity and temperature many a times, sudden rain can cause a shortness of breath and headache.Where cold, flu, and throat irritation are common outcomes of rain, it can also foster influenza and worsen the underlying health conditions and trigger allergic reactions in the person.
Having understood the side-effects of sudden rain, let’s delve deep into the respiratory health arising from it.

1) Asthma
The rainy weather supports the growth of pollen, which can be easily transported by the air. Pollens become highly respirable and are responsible for triggering allergic asthma with the development of symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, noisy, and fast breathing.
Apart from pollen, the fluctuating temperature or humidity, a common outcome of sudden rain, can also result in non-allergic asthma. This severely impacts the respiratory tract, causing congestion and irritation in it.
2) Allergic reaction
Rains can initiate allergies, making it difficult for people already suffering from such conditions. People can experience severe nasal congestion, which can be observed in the form of sneezing, stuffiness, and difficulty in breathing. Things can get complicated when a person shows allergy like symptoms but tests negative for specific allergies. According to experts, such a condition is indicative of non-allergic rhinitis, which is generally an outcome of sudden changes in temperature and humidity.

3) ENT infection & balance issues
Promoting warm and humid conditions, rains encourage the growth of bacteria and fungi responsible for giving rise to ENT-related infections. The infections in turn can trigger sinuses, otitis media characterized by infection in the middle ear, and tonsillitis. Otomycosis is also very common which generally arises due to excess humid conditions. Caused by fungal infection, it generally affects the outer ear canal and at times can even reach the inner ear. It can induce hearing loss, itchiness, earache, fluid discharge, etc. in the person suffering from infection. People can take preventive measures by keeping the ear dry by simply using a cotton cloth to wipe the ear. They should also avoid fiddling with the ear and inserting any foreign material such as pin, cotton swabs, etc. into the ear.
Apart from this, the sudden alteration in temperature and humidity can further worsen the situation and stimulate change in atmospheric pressure, severely impacting equilibrium of the ear. It can meddle with the balance system residing in the inner ear and likewise, cause dizziness, vertigo, and other issues related to balance in a person. The fluctuation in various environmental factors due to unexpected rain can also give rise to a condition called tinnitus, marked by a feeling of constant ringing in the ear.
Looking at the deteriorating state of respiratory health, it is advisable to visit a doctor on experiencing any of the symptoms stated above for timely detection and treatment of the condition. Along with this, they can also take some preventive measures in the form of nasal irrigation, which significantly contributes to relieving the symptoms. This involves decreasing the swelling of nasal passages by spraying saline solution into the nose. Additionally, it is also recommended to stay hydrated to keep the airways moist and reduce incidences of irritation in the respiratory passage.
(Article Courtesy: Dr Rajesh Dhir, Senior ENT Specialist at HearClear)