A national study of respiratory diseases by different hospitals revealed that specific ailments such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and tuberculosis could be exacerbated by particular triggers and seasonal factors.

The study included 25,000 patients from various locations in Maharashtra, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, etc., which showed that asthma was enhanced by mould exposure, travel, and even getting wet in the rain. Smoking cigarettes and being exposed to biomass fuel triggers COPD.

Dr. Virendra Singh, from Rajasthan Hospital, Jaipur, said that recent travel and getting wet in the rain triggers respiratory tract infections. In winter, the prevalence of asthma was 31.4%, while in the summer, it was 26.5%. While TB prevalence was 12.5% in the autumn and 4.1% in the summer, COPD prevalence was 21.1% in the winter compared to 8.1% in the summer.

Further, the director of Pune-based Pulmocare Research and Education Foundation, Dr. Sundeep Salvi said that the study sought to understand the causes of OPD visits. It found that asthma (29.8%), COPD (15.6%), respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia (11.3%), TB (8.7%), and bronchiectasis (7.1%) were the most frequent causes. He added that the monsoon season is when asthma attacks are most common. Some risk factors for asthma flare-ups include indoor mould, developing on or within moist walls in homes, and getting drenched in the rain.

(Times of India, Aug 24, 2022)

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/study-links-asthma-to-rain-shows-summer-is-healthier/articleshowprint/93740811.cms