Here’s Why Climate Change is Making Your Allergies Worse
Does it seem like every year is the “worst allergy season ever?” Allergy season seems to be becoming increasingly awful. You can’t stop hearing about it on the news or reading about it online or, worst of all, feeling it in your sinuses?
There is actually a lot of truth behind all the buzz. This is one of the worst allergy seasons of all time, and things are worsening from year to year. The reason? Climate change. The warming of the planet and shifting of the seasons and weather patterns has been linked to a higher concentration of pollen in the air and a longer allergy season.
The Allergy Season IS Longer
The length of the allergy season has actually increased significantly. Between 1995 and 2011, higher temperatures in the United States have caused an increase in the pollen season, resulting in a higher air pollen count timeframe that’s anywhere from 11 to 27 days longer than it was in 1995.
Also, allergy season nowadays is more nonstop than ever before. Many who deal with allergies have had to deal with multiple kinds of allergens at the same time. This year a longer winter meant a delayed start to tree pollen season, which typically begins in March and ends in May. This caused tree pollen season to run into grass pollen season in June, doubling up on many allergy sufferers and compounding symptoms.
This doesn’t just mean an there’s an uptick in sneezing and itchy eyes: It’s a public health issue as well. Allergies in asthmatics means more opportunity for asthma attacks as well. A longer allergy season means an increase in both the risk and severity of asthma attacks.
The Pollen Count is Higher
One of the easiest allergens to study is ragweed. Ragweed, unlike trees or grasses, is an annual, making it easier to track and study its growth patterns from year to year. Additionally, it is an ideal plant to study the effects of climate change because it reacts to increased counts of carbon dioxide in the air.
Carbon dioxide is a major pollutant and cause of climate change. How does this impact allergy sufferers? Each ragweed plant is directly affected by the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. It acts as a nutrient for plants, so the more carbon dioxide in the air, the healthier the plant will be. As the air’s carbon dioxide particulate count increases, so does the amount of pollen each ragweed plant produces.
Since before the Industrial Revolution all the way until today, the carbon dioxide concentration in the air has increased from 280 parts per million to over 400 parts per million. While this is great for plant growth, it’s not so great for those who deal with seasonal allergies. More carbon dioxide means more pollen, more pollen means more seeds, and more seeds means more plants the following allergy season: it’s a vicious— and seemingly endless— cycle.
Colder Climates are Hit the Hardest
Carbon dioxide levels rising and warmer temperatures means melting permafrost in colder climates, such as Alaska. This allows moisture to seep into homes, encouraging mold to grow, and releasing mold spores out into the air, causing more people to seek treatment for mold allergies.
Alaska’s worst allergies come from birch trees. Allergen levels are considered “high” anywhere above 175 grains per cubic meter, and in Alaska, birch pollen counts have been known to soar above 1000 grains per cubic meter. As a result of higher temperatures, this birch pollen is affecting Alaskans who don’t normally experience allergy symptoms.
Combating Allergens
Allergy spores trigger the immune system to fight off the histamine “invaders,” throwing allergy sufferers into a host of troublesome allergy symptoms, which can only increase as our planet continues to warm and climates change. How can these terrible allergy symptoms be kept at bay?
Airloom promotes a healthy response to the seasonal stresses caused by pollen and spores.* The formula, made from all-natural ingredients, fights against higher histamine levels that contribute to symptoms of seasonal discomfort. Made with herbs that support healthy histamine levels, Airloom is a surefire way to ensure that as temperatures climb and pollen counts increase, your body can do its best to maintain normal functioning.
Have questions about how Airloom can work for you? Contact us! We are passionate about our all-natural seasonal support to help you weather any season with a healthy respiratory system.
Ready to try Airloom? Get $5 off today with code "histyfits" (that's short for histamine fits, aka your body's response to seasonal irritants.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
