This story was originally Appear in Vox yes Climate table cooperate.
The warm spring air is a welcome relief Cold winter In most parts of the United States, but thousands of seasonal allergic patients are buried in pollen tsunamis, sneezing, headaches, watery eyes and plush sinuses, sending them indoors right away.
Atlanta already has it Break pollen count record14,801 grains per cubic meter spewed out from pine, oak and birch. Houston The highest pollen count since records began in 2013 were also reported.
this American Asthma and Allergy Foundation (AAFA) predicts that 2025 will be another year for seasonal allergies nationwide, with the worst cities in the southern United States. Your red eyes and runny nose won’t deceive you – seasonal allergies are getting worse and worse, almost a tragic reality One in three adults and one in four children in the United States.
Why? Sneezing and sniffing are some of them The siren of climate change. In fact, pollen has now become a threat in recent years due to warming in some parts of the United States. Pollen is the main trigger for seasonal allergies, which appeared earlier this year with higher concentrations and continued longer and longer for a year. “In the spring, the first pollen allergen starts from the trees, which starts 20 days earlier than 30 years ago.” Kenneth MendezCEO of AAFA. The increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration directly induces plants to produce more pollen, while extending the temperature conditions that trigger pollen production in plants.
“We’ve been hearing all the time, ‘I’ve never had allergies before, and now I suddenly feel like I’m allergic, or ‘I think my allergies are getting worse and worse, and that’s because the allergic load is much higher due to climate change.”
For most people, seasonal allergies are an unpleasant hassle. But there are millions of feelings Burley At the same time, it increases the huge economic burden lost by productivity. Asthma, allergic rhinitis – a condition you might call hay fever and relate to allergic conditions Spend the economy billions of dollars Every year on weekdays, medications and doctor visits.
There are also some people who are a more serious problem that can lead to dangerous complications or exacerbate other health problems. A study found that allergies in tree pollen can cause 25,000 to 50,000 emergency room visits Every year, two-thirds of people under the age of 18.
Over time, as pollen counts increase, more and more people with sensitivity thresholds find these tiny grains a dangerously difficult method. Others have also found that doors and windows cannot protect them as some of the tiniest pollen grains seep into them.
“If the trend line continues, I think more and more people will feel pain from allergies,” Mendes said.
How we make our allergies worse
The problem with allergic patients is that their body defense mechanisms can sometimes overreact. Often, it can lead to mild, easy-to-treat symptoms. But allergens can also trigger more serious complications Asthma attackcausing panting, tight chest and shortness of breath. On rare occasions, they Can cause allergic reactionsa systemic reaction, the airway can expand and blood pressure drops to dangerously low levels.
The vast majority of pollen allergies are more annoying than danger, but seasonal pollen is everywhere and almost impossible to avoid, sneaking into the room through vents, window seals, clothes and pet fur.
