Buzz
If it feels like allergy season is becoming more intense year after year, you're probably right. Experts who track pollen patterns and timing have confirmed that allergy seasons have indeed been extending and may even be more severe than before.
A great resource on this topic is this article from the Conversation, which breaks down some of the latest research in an accessible way. Over the past several decades, pollen seasons have stretched, with spring allergies now beginning between 3 and 22 days earlier, and fall pollen seasons starting later.
The exact length of pollen season varies based on your location and what allergens affect you. In the southern regions, where growing seasons are already lengthy, the effects of climate change are especially noticeable in the northern areas, where there’s a more distinct transition between winter and spring warmth.
If you’ve ever taken an allergy test, you likely have an idea of which trees or plants trigger your allergies. The most common allergens come from wind-pollinated plants, which scatter tiny pollen grains through the air. (Larger, vibrant flowers are typically pollinated by bees and produce bigger pollen grains that don’t reach your lungs. This is why the common allergens tend to be plants that aren’t often thought of as flowers—trees like birch, oak, and maple, grasses, and even unassuming weeds like ragweed.)
It’s common to have allergies to more than one type of pollen, and this is another way climate change is worsening the situation—pollen seasons now overlap more frequently. For example, oak pollen used to end before birch pollen started, but now the two are more likely to be airborne simultaneously, making life difficult if you're allergic to both.
What can you do about it?
The core issue here is climate change, which we can't tackle alone. We need corporations and governments to step up and address it. Start by reading this article from Gizmodo to understand the critical challenges at hand.
As for managing your health, we have helpful tips for living with allergies here. Keeping your home clean and changing your clothes after being outside can minimize pollen inside your home. Investing in an air purifier is also a good move: since I added one to my bedroom, my indoor and outdoor allergies have greatly improved.
When you head outdoors, be mindful of pollen counts (and forecasts) as well as air quality warnings. Pollen levels are usually lower on rainy, cloudy, or calm days. For the most up-to-date pollen counts in your area, check the National Allergy Bureau. And if you’ve been putting off seeing an allergist about your springtime sneezing, now is the time to schedule that appointment—next year could be even worse.
