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Is Allergy Season Getting Worse Every Year?
Every spring, the news outlets seem to recycle the same message: This is the worst allergy season on record. At first glance, the headlines may seem dramatic. But, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, they are actually true. In the last year, 19.2 million adults and 5.2 million children in the United States suffered from hay fever. Allergy season is getting worse every year. And the reasons why may surprise you.
Before delving in, let’s first consider the types of environmental allergies and what causes them. Environmental allergy symptoms happen when we breathe in particles that trigger an allergic reaction in our eyes, noses, throats, and lungs. Those reactions can result in sneezing; nasal congestion and drip; watery, itchy eyes; sore throat; and asthma. Environmental allergies can be divided into groups like indoor, outdoor, seasonal, and year-round. The most common causes of year-round allergies are mold spores, dust mites, cockroaches, cat and dog dander, and rodent urine — allergens that are present indoors and out.
Seasonal allergies, those that flare up in the fall and spring, are caused by weed pollen, tree pollen, and grass pollen. Seasonal allergies are mostly outdoor, but pets and shoes can track those allergens inside too.
When considering seasonal allergies, pollen is the main culprit. Pollen is the dust or tiny seeds produced by the male parts of flowering trees, plants, and grasses. Because these plants can’t move on their own, they rely on wind, water, and insects to carry their seeds to females. In other words, pollen is how baby trees and plants are made. Amazingly, the outer layer of each pollen grain is very resistant to damage, remaining intact despite intense heat, chemicals, or other exposures. Pollen is only produced during certain times of the year, called growing seasons. Trees usually begin producing pollen in January, this peaks in early spring and stops in June. Grass pollen usually peaks in late spring or early summer in northern states, but it can be year-round in the south. Weed pollen is produced in late summer and fall in all states, but mostly in the east and midwest.
So, why is allergy season getting worse every year? The main reason is climate change. Warmer air temperatures and shifts in precipitation patterns are making…
