As temperatures soar across the UK, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a stark warning about the little-known risk of 'thunderstorm asthma' – a phenomenon where summer storms whip up massive pollen clouds, triggering severe breathing difficulties for millions of asthma and hay fever sufferers.
The alert comes as the Met Office's three-month outlook points to a higher-than-normal chance of hot spells this summer. The UKHSA urged the public to take simple precautions, cautioning that even moderate heat can pose a serious health risk to anyone caught unprepared.
“UKHSA warns of thunderstorm asthma risk as heatwave prompts safety advice and clothing tips.”
Officials explained that the body's main defence against overheating is sweating, aided by increased blood flow to the skin. But factors such as dehydration, tight clothing, certain medicines and a lack of breeze can interfere with this natural cooling system, leaving people vulnerable to heat exhaustion or the more dangerous heatstroke.
The agency's advice includes keeping curtains and windows shut in rooms that catch the sun during the day, then throwing them open once the air outside turns cooler than indoors – typically overnight – to create a flow of air through the house. Households are also told to steer clear of the sun during peak hours of 11am to 3pm, to wear high-factor sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat, and to stick to the shade if venturing out.
Other tips include avoiding strenuous exercise in the hottest part of the day, never leaving cars standing in the sun with people inside, and choosing loose, light-coloured cotton or linen clothing over dark, synthetic fabrics that trap heat. The UKHSA also urges people to drink water throughout the day rather than waiting until they feel thirsty, to consider rehydration drinks if sweating heavily, and to go easy on tea, coffee and alcohol, which can worsen dehydration.
Splashing or sponging the skin with cool water, or holding a cold pack wrapped in a cloth under the arms or against the neck, can help bring body temperature down quickly. Even switching off the television, laptop and phone chargers when not in use can make a difference, as electronic devices generate extra heat inside the home.
On the thunderstorm asthma risk, the agency said strong winds during a storm whip pollen and fungal spores into the air, break them into tiny fragments in the clouds, and send them raining back down in a form small enough to be breathed deep into the lungs. Asthma sufferers and hay fever patients, a group that runs into many millions across the UK, are said to be most at risk.
Ceril Campbell, a celebrity stylist and fashion reporter with over 40 years' experience, also weighed in on staying cool in the heat. 'Loose, natural fabrics are the best clothing option when the temperature rises,' she said. Campbell, author of Circle of Secrets, added: 'A simple cotton or linen dress is the hardest-working item in any summer wardrobe, especially mine.' She recommended seeking out high street or supermarket bargains, noting that some of the best compliments she has received were on outfits under £30.
