Extreme heat waves appear to be a trigger for asthma attacks, especially during the summer nights. Nighttime heat is proving particularly risky, a new study suggests.
Hospitals in Baltimore saw a sharp increase in asthma-related ER visits in the weeks following the recent heat waves, researchers reported in a May 6 publication.
Experts at the Johns Hopkins University evaluated 819 adults and 695 pediatric asthma ER visits that happened during Baltimore summers from 2016 to 2022. The team compared those cases to daytime and nighttime temperatures in the patients’ neighborhoods.
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Neighborhoods with the largest swings in nighttime temperatures were most likely to see an increase in asthma-related ER visits, the study found. Kids were 28% to 47% more likely to suffer a chronic asthma attack following a nighttime heat wave, with risks varying between neighborhoods. Likewise, adults were 26% to 40% more likely to need ER treatment for asthma.
According to researchers at the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America, prolonged exposure to heat at night can worsen asthma symptoms. Some of the body’s defenses are also lower at night. For instance, the hormone adrenaline has a natural cycle that naturally drops around 3 a.m., making it less available to help the body manage asthma symptoms.
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Disclaimer:
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting or changing any medication or treatment.