Allergist Warns of Thunderstorm Asthma
April 28, 2025
MAYWOOD, IL – April showers can bring more than just May flowers. The combination of grass pollen and thunderstorms can create a phenomenon known as “thunderstorm asthma” for allergy sufferers.
Rachna Shah, MD, lead of the Loyola Medicine Allergy Count, is warning the public about this rare weather occurrence. Grass pollen, which is prevalent from mid-April until the end of May, which combined with rain, lightning and strong winds, can be the perfect storm.
“This phenomenon occurs when there is grass pollen in particular,” said Dr. Shah. “The rain and lightning break the pollen into even smaller particles, which can get deeper into our respiratory system, causing asthma-like symptoms.”
Patients with a history of asthma, grass allergy, or worsening allergies are at higher risk. “It’s important for these individuals to use preventative medications that have been prescribed to control allergies and asthma, carry an albuterol inhaler in case of worsening asthma, keep windows closed, and keep track of the pollen count,” said Dr. Shah.
For more than 20 years, Loyola Medicine's Gottlieb Memorial Hospital has provided the Chicago area with updated allergy counts every weekday during allergy season. Allergy sufferers can follow @LoyolaAllergy on X (formerly known as Twitter) or visit loyolamedicine.org/allergy-count for the latest numbers. B-roll of Dr. Shah conducting the allergy account is available to download at this link.
About Loyola Medicine
Loyola Medicine, a member of Trinity Health, is a nationally ranked academic, quaternary care system based in Chicago's western suburbs. The three-hospital system includes Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC), Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, MacNeal Hospital, as well as convenient locations offering primary care, specialty care and immediate care services from nearly 2,000 physicians throughout Cook, Will and DuPage counties. LUMC is a 547-licensed-bed hospital in Maywood that includes the William G. and Mary A. Ryan Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine, the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, the John L. Keeley, MD, Emergency Department, a Level 1 trauma center, Illinois's largest burn center, the Nancy W. Knowles Orthopaedic Institute, a certified comprehensive stroke center, transplant center and a children’s hospital. Having delivered compassionate care for over 50 years, Loyola also trains the next generation of caregivers through its academic affiliation with Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine and Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing.
Established in 1961, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital is a 247-licensed-bed community hospital in Melrose Park that includes the Judd A. Weinberg Emergency Department, the Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Care, Loyola Cancer Care & Research at the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Center, acute rehabilitation, a transitional care center, childcare center and fitness center. Founded in 1919, MacNeal Hospital is a 374-licensed-bed teaching hospital in Berwyn with advanced medical, surgical and psychiatric services and a 68-bed behavioral health program.
For more information, visit loyolamedicine.org. You can also follow Loyola Medicine on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or X (formerly known as Twitter).
About Trinity Health
Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, faith-based health care systems in the nation. It is a family of 127,000 colleagues and more than 38,300 physicians and clinicians caring for diverse communities across 26 states. Nationally recognized for care and experience, the Trinity Health system includes 93 hospitals, 107 continuing care locations, the second largest PACE program in the country, 142 urgent care locations and many other health and well-being services. In fiscal year 2024, the Livonia, Michigan-based health system invested $1.3 billion in its communities in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs. For more information, visit us at www.trinity-health.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter).