Does it seem like your allergies have been getting worse year after year? If so, it may not be your imagination. The culprit may be climate change. As the planet warms, allergy seasons appear to be getting longer. Concentrations of allergens in the air, such as pollen, are also increasing. This all adds up to more sniffling, sneezing and wheezing for those who are long-time allergy sufferers. Even people who never experienced allergies in the past may notice they now have symptoms.
This increase in the duration and intensity of allergy seasons is not just a consequence of climate change that may happen sometime in the future. It’s a fact of life right now. No matter where you live or what the climate is like in your own backyard, chances are that you’re living among more allergy triggers than ever before.
One research study measured pollen trends in North America between 1990 to 2018. The study found that pollen seasons now start about 20 days earlier than they did in the 1990s. There’s also been more than a 20 percent increase in pollen concentrations during this time. Although the long-term role of climate change in relation to pollen patterns is not well understood, the effects it is having, and is expected to continue to have, on allergy sufferers cannot be ignored.
By increasing the amount of allergy triggers in the air, there is a higher likelihood that people will experience respiratory health issues due to seasonal allergies. This may be bothersome if you’re someone who muddles through the season with occasional sniffling or watery eyes. But if you have more severe allergy symptoms, or also have asthma, the increasing effects of allergens in the environment may be cause for concern.
There’s nothing you can do about the amount of pollen in the air or how long it lingers, but there are steps you can take to make allergy season more bearable. Here are a few tips for reducing your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers:
If your allergy symptoms are severe, have been getting worse or trigger asthma attacks or other respiratory issues, see a doctor for additional prevention and treatment options.
Copyright 2022-2023 © Baldwin
Publishing, Inc..
Health eCooks™ is a designated
trademark of Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein without
the express approval of Baldwin Publishing, Inc. is strictly prohibited.
By participating in this quiz, or screening or health assessment, I recognize and accept all risks associated with it. I understand that the program will only screen for certain risk factors and does not constitute a complete physical exam. For the diagnosis of a medical problem, I must see a physician for a complete medical exam. I release Deborah Heart and Lung Center and any other organization(s) involved in this screening, and their employees and agents, from all liabilities, medical claims or expenses which may arise from my participation. Thank you for investing in your health by participating today.