How Climate Change Is Affecting Our Allergies
Do you feel like your allergies are getting worse every year, because I do. Allergy season never really ends for me because I have two cats. But that's besides the point. It turns out allergens are worse due to changes in our climate.
According to the National Academy of Sciences, climate change is making the allergy season worse. A new study from the University of Utah School of Biological Sciences says that pollen season starts earlier and last longer.
"Pollen season starts 20 days earlier, lasts 10 days longer and creates 21% more pollen than in 1990."
The studies lead author William Anderegg says that humans have played a role in that change.
"A number of smaller-scale studies -- usually in greenhouse settings on small plants -- had indicated strong links between temperature and pollen. This study reveals that connection at continental scales and explicitly links pollen trends to human-caused climate change."
Did you know that allergies can be more than itchy eyes, or runny noses? They can also be the cause of worsening respiratory health conditions like asthma. Because pollen concentrations are sensitive to temperature, there's a potential increase in respiratory issues which could lead to viral infections and more frequent emergency room visits.
This may sound ridiculous, but I pretty much keep a bottle of nose spray on me at all times. I don't know why, but nasal spray works better for me than any oral allergy medication. According to Healthline, some research found that using nasal spray was more affective than oral medication when treating nasal symptoms.