Allergy Season: Does climate change worsen allergies?

Warming Spring Air is It's awfully cold winter In most parts of the United States, millions of seasonal allergies are buried under the pollen tsunami, with sneezing, headaches, watery eyes and stuffing returning indoors.

I already have Atlanta Breaking the Pollen Count's recordThere are 14,801 grains per cubic meter from pine, oak and birch trees. Houston It also reported the highest pollen count since 2013, when records began.

American Asthma and Allergy Basics (AAFA) 2025 is the worst city in the US South and is predicting it will be even more brutal for seasonal allergies across the country. Don't deceive your red eyes and flow nose – seasonal allergies are getting worse, miserable reality for most 1 in 3 American adults and 1 in 4 children.

why? Sneezing and sniffles are a few Climate change siren. In fact, due to global warming, pollen is currently a threat in parts of the United States almost all year round. Pollen, the main seasonal allergy trigger, appears at higher concentrations at the beginning of the year and continues year by year. “In spring, the first pollen allergens come from trees and start 20 days before 30 years ago,” he said. Kenneth MendesCEO of AAFA. Increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are directly inducing plants to produce more pollen while increasing the temperature conditions of the plants.

“We've always not been allergies, so we've started to have allergies,” or “it feels like our allergies are getting worse,” because the allergy burden is much higher due to climate change,” Mendes said.

For most people, seasonal allergies can be an unpleasant nuisance. But with millions of people in mind Blur At the same time, a decline in productivity will be a major economic burden. Asthma, allergic rhinitis – a condition that is probably known as a fever in hay – and related allergic conditions The economy costs billions of dollars Every year on work day, medication, and doctor visits.

Others have the potential to exacerbate pollen as a more serious problem, which can exacerbate dangerous complications and other health issues. One study found that pollen allergies in trees can lead to 25,000-50,000 emergency room visits Two-thirds of people under the age of 18 per year.

Over time, as pollen numbers increase, more people with higher sensitivity thresholds find the hard way these small grains are being dangerous. Others also know that some of the smallest pollen grains permeate, so doors and windows cannot protect them.

“I think if the trendline continues, more people will feel miserable from allergies,” Mendes said.

How to keep your allergies worsening for yourself

The problem for allergic patients is that the body's defense mechanisms can overreact to something benign. Usually, it leads to mild, easily treatable symptoms. However, allergens can also cause more serious complications Asthma attackcauses wheezing, chest tension, and shortness of breath. In rare cases, they It can lead to anaphylaxisa systemic response that can close the airways and cause blood pressure to drop to dangerously low levels.

While most pollen allergies are more nuisance than danger, seasonal pollen is ubiquitous and evacuation is almost impossible.

Some people are more sensitive than others, but relentless, growing exposure can be miserable even for people with mild allergies. Pollen grains are in size range From under 10 microns to 100allowing them to penetrate deep into the lungs and stimulate the airways. Many types of plants release pollen as part of the reproductive cycle. Generally, Trees spread pollen in springsummer grass, and autumn rugweed.

However, the historic pollen timing patterns have already shifted.

Tree pollen is shaken from the branches almost every year early in the season. Some grass seeds saw them The release date for pollen is almost a month late Their overall season has grown longer. As a result, grass pollen is increasingly overlapping Rugweed pollen seasonsince 1995, it has been extended for more than three weeks in some parts of the country.

There are two important mechanisms driving this trend, both induced by human appetite for fossil fuels. Increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to the combustion of coal, oil and natural gas Directly induces many plant species to produce more pollen. Carbon dioxide can help plants grow bigger and faster, Produce more flowersleading to more pollen. The more pollen you have, the more seeds you have. This means that more plants will spray pollen next season.

Higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are also warming the planets and changing the climate. Generally, that means Warm, shorter winter and Previous Springleads to a long season of plant growth. These trends continue as global average temperatures rise, creating a significant public health burden for allergies.

Several regions of countries such as Texas are on track to see Pollen is almost twice as high By 2050 compared to 2000.

It's not just pollen you have to worry about

For many people, allergies are additional complications in addition to other health and environmental conditions. Air pollution from ozone, microparticles, sulfur, and nitrogen compounds can cause unique respiratory problems, but crossing with allergies, It exacerbates symptoms. Polluting from the road can create pollen from nearby plants More powerful in triggering allergic reactions. Smoke from a wildfire It can also worsen allergies.

The city may not be evacuated much. Landscape changes like urbanization can create a More advantageous habitats For plants like ragweed. Additionally, urban centers tend to warm faster than rural environments and have higher concentrations of air pollutants, exacerbating the effects of allergies. These factors are particularly strong in low-income and underserved communities.

Pollen is not the only allergen that changes with the climate. This is the rise in temperatures and precipitation in some areas. Increases the number and duration of allergic mold spores. Extreme weather exacerbates the problem even further as damage and destruction creates conditions for more mold. It was evident like a storm last year in New Orleans Hurricane Francine Immered the city.

“When these storms pass through, they do so much damage to the state's landscape. Some communities have the resources to quickly get into the roof and repair it, and repair the windows, and there are many who don't have those resources. John Carlsonleads the high-risk allergy division at Ochsner Health System in New Orleans. “It's so warm here that you can grow mold every year as long as you have moisture.”

Strong winds from storms can also raise dust and can cause asthma. Furthermore, there is a phenomenon called Thunderstorm asthmalocations where weather conditions are possible Ruptured pollen grains Trigger an asthma attack on smaller, more allergic fragments.

It is not clear whether the total number of people with seasonal allergies is increasing. The United States may be approaching plateaus with the number of people susceptible to pollen, Carlson said. At the same time, there are other conditions that can cause symptoms like allergies, and at sufficient concentrations even non-allergy will wheeze.

“New Orleans has a ton of oak pollen, meaning there's a lot of oak pollen in the air. And despite this, there are a lot of people who don't have itchy oak pollen allergies.

The good news is that there are ways to contain the worst effects of seasonal allergies. For people with a history of nasty seasonal allergies, it is important to look at allergists and find out what a particular trigger is and which medications work. It makes sense to start taking medications like nasal sprays and over-the-counter allergy medications before the pollen has risen.

“We generally say we put your medication in your system two weeks ago because it takes time for it to accumulate,” Mendes said. For those who don't know if they have an allergy or not, but are worried about the threat, pay attention to your symptoms and look at an allergist when they start experiencing frustrating eyes and airways. There are also more aggressive interventions for people with severe allergies that do not respond to other drugs, such as desensitization therapy. Allergy shot.

Some of the same measures to avoid air pollution can also help with pollen. Beware of local pollen predictions. Avoid the outside and nearby doors and windows, especially in the morning, when pollen release times are high. Put your coat and shoes outside or lock them in before you settle in the house. After a walk, wipe the dog off. Use HEPA air filters in your living space.

In the long term, it is wise to control the emission of heat trapped gases that exacerbate climate change and allergies. For now, keep the organization close by.