Each year, allergy season seems to be worse and longer, causing people with asthma and hay fever to suffer more. After the severity of the pandemic, when people see someone sneezing, coughing, and stuffy nose, they get extremely nervous. However, those who suffer from allergies are not contagious.
Experts estimate around 30 to 40% of the world’s population now have some form of allergy. Theresa MacPhail, a medical anthropologist, allergic reactions are growing in the United States and the world. These allergic reactions include hay fever, eczema, and asthma.
The reason behind the worsening of allergy symptoms could all lead back to climate change, according to experts. The weather has become warmer sooner than normal, which has caused pollen-producing plants and trees to grow ahead of schedule. The more pollen there is, the more people suffer during the allergy season.
How Climate Change Can Alter Allergy Season
On March 30, Kari Nadeau, a John Rock Professor of Climate and Population Studies, spoke with Boston 25 News about climate change and allergies. She is also chair of the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “There are these extreme, chaotic conditions that climate change is associated with,” Nadeau explained. “And that warming is affecting our pollen seasons.”
Additionally, climate change could be affecting plant life in many different ways. When warmer weather begins, plants receive signals to bloom. This makes pollen season start earlier and last longer.
Moreover, plants are stimulated by carbon dioxide. The gas causes them to increase their production, which creates more pollen. Greenhouse emissions increase the atmospheric levels of the gas. In addition, countries that had colder weather are starting to warm up and thaw out. This means that pollen-producing plants are now able to grow in these regions. Individuals who live in these areas are now experiencing allergy season like they never had before.
Battling Allergies Can Weaken Immune System
With allergy season coming early and staying longer, it could cause people to catch other viruses. People who suffer from pollen allergies produce large amounts of sugar-containing mucus, stated Nadeau. This can lead to serious infections. “Bacteria love sugar and because you’re so exhausted fighting these allergies, people can get viruses, as well,” she added.
Springtime not only marks allergy season, but it is also flu and cold season. The combination of these seasons makes it difficult for people to know if they are sick or experiencing allergies. For example, allergies can cause:
- Congestion.
- Itchy throat, nose, and eyes.
- Watery eyes.
- Runny nose.
- Fatigue.
- Post-nasal drip which is drainage from the nose in the throat.
- Coughing.
- Sneezing.
Because these symptoms mimic those of ailments, people are usually unaware they have a virus until they develop a headache, fever, or achiness. While viruses can affect people for a certain duration, allergies will rage as long as the person is exposed to the allergen.
Allergy Season and Asthma
Having allergies and asthma can be a hassle at times. Individuals with both may need to be placed on additional medications to help keep them breathing properly. In addition to a rescue inhaler, they could be prescribed:
- A nebulizer with albuterol solution. They may even give the person the medication they call duel-neb treatment — Ipratropium Bromide and Albuterol Sulfate.
- Dulera. This is a daily medication to help treat asthma.
- Breo. Also, a daily medicine to help treat asthma and COPD.
- Spiriva Respimat. Daily medication.
- Cetrizine. It is an antihistamine medicine that helps the symptoms of allergies.
- Loratadine. A medication used to temporarily relieve the symptoms of hay fever (allergy to pollen, dust, or other substances in the air) and other allergies.
- Flonase Nasal Spray. Helps with allergies.
They could also be placed on biological infusions like Xolair and Fasenra.
Having asthma already makes people vulnerable to illnesses like respiratory viruses and colds. Adding allergy season into the mix further weakens one’s immune system, creating more susceptibility.
Global Warming and Future Allergy Seasons
If steps are not taken, then global warming will continue to create climate change. And as previously stated, climate change causes earlier and longer allergy seasons. So it is safe to assume if things continue down the same path, allergy symptoms could become more frequent, possibly worse. As it is, allergy season is already wreaking havoc on those who have asthma and hay fever.
Sources:
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Allergies are getting worse with climate change
NPR: Why our allergies are getting worse — and what to do about it
Inter Coastal Medical: Can Allergies Lower Your Immune System?
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