After a relatively mild winter in most of the United States, following a record warm summer for the planet, the period of seasonal allergies is getting more intense. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, over 80 million Americans experience symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, and other signs of seasonal allergies.
Climate change is worsening allergy season
A 2021 study discovered that spring allergy season is starting around 20 days earlier in North America because of human-caused climate change. Pollen levels have increased by about 20 percent across the country since 1990, with the largest rises seen in the Midwest and Texas. Warmer temperatures, higher carbon dioxide levels, and increased precipitation can all contribute to plants producing more pollen for a longer time..
This year, allergist and director of the Loyola Medicine Allergy Count Dr. Rachna Shah noticed that the pollen count started early. She usually checks pollen levels in Chicago in April, but found that tree pollen was already at a moderate level in mid-February.
[Related: Climate change is leading to more pollen during allergy season..]
“This season has been so crazy,” Shah told the Associated Press. “Granted, it was a pretty mild winter, but I didn’t expect it to be so early.”
Shah also believes that this season will be longer than other years, if the weather stays unusually warm.
What are some triggers for seasonal allergies?
Pollen from growing trees and other plants is one of the most common triggers of seasonal allergies. In the early spring, tree pollen tends to be the biggest allergy trigger, with grass and weed pollen following.
Ragweed, goldenrod, dust, and mold can also trigger allergies for some.
Is it a cold or allergies?
Since allergies typically come with sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, and sore throat, it can be tough to distinguish them from the common cold. According to Dr. Rita Kachru, chief of clinical allergy and immunology at UCLA Health, muscle pain, joint aches, fatigue, and fever is a sure sign that these symptoms are from a cold and not allergies.
Symptoms flaring up around the same time every year and having a family history of seasonal allergies are also helpful in determining what’s causing the symptoms.
How to manage symptoms
According to the Mayo Clinic, one of the first things to do is reduce exposure. This can mean avoiding going outside on windy days when pollen is blowing around, changing clothes and showering after coming inside, and even rinsing out your nasal passages. The best time to go outside is after a good rainfall, when some pollen has been washed away. You can also monitor pollen counts in your area online or during weather forecasts.
[Related: It’s time you really understood what allergies mean.]
There are also several over-the-counter remedies available in both oral and nasal spray form that can help with symptoms when taken correctly. These include fexofenadine (Allegra), loratadine (Claritin), levocetirizine (Xyzal), and cetirizine (Zyrtec). Some common steroid nasal sprays include budesonide (Benacort), fluticasone (Flonase), triamcinolone (Nasacort) and mometasone (Nasonex).
Doctors advise against using products containing pseudoephedrine, like Sudafed, for more than a day or two due to the potential to increase heart rate and blood pressure. A group of physicians also released guidelines in 2020 that did not endorse the use of Benadryl for allergy treatment. The medication may cause drowsiness and confusion in certain patients.
If symptoms are severe and persist for several months, it is crucial to consult a medical professional and possibly undergo testing to determine the specific allergen. There are also long-term allergy shots available that can help with more severe reactions.
