Sufferers of hay fever may need to prepare for an extremely robust spring.
Hay Fever
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around one in four American adults experience hay fever, or allergic rhinitis. This condition is caused by an allergic reaction towards pollen.
Symptoms of hay fever include congestion, allergic conjunctivitis, cough, sneezing, itchy throat, roof of mouth, or nose, allergic shiners,and postnasal drip.
The severity of the hay fever reaction depends on the pollen released within a given year. For this year specifically, scientists think that the season could be bumper.
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Pollen Storm
Leonard Bielory, an immunologist, professor of medicine, and allergist from Hackensack meridian School of Medicine, explains that pollen is but a plant's male reproductive component. Hence, it seeks the prime time for it to undergo reproduction.
Trees are the first to pollinate. They are then followed by weeds and grass. The scientists also discovered that the season before can offer a prediction for the volume of pollen that comes in the next season.
In particular, rainy water can be a good indicator of concentrations of pollen in the coming pollen season. Bielory says that the showers of April bring the flowers of May and that showers of April also offer more grass pollen.
For tree pollen, it is actually the winter's precipitation and snow storms. If there is no rain and snow in winter, there will be a lower pollen season. However, for this year in the northeast, much rain was seen and pollination has begun a few days earlier than expected. With this, Bielory has warned that the spring will be extremely robust.
A 2021 study also found that the concentration of pollen in North America has gone up by 21% since the year 1990. Moreover, the season is also starting up to 20 days earlier.
Bielory explains that as temperatures keep on soaring, allergy season could end up more long-lasting and severe. This could significantly affect public health, as allergies could worsen conditions such as respiratory illnesses and asthma.
Aside from global warming, pollution can also affect the severity of seasonal allergies. Bielory explains that for those in big cities, air pollution could serve as an irritant or adjuvant. Hence, if one is mildly allergic and pollutant exposure is added, this could lead to irritation in the nose and eyes. When it gets mixed with pollen, all of this ends up getting triggered. In contrast, if pollutants were not present to exacerbate things, one could just experience mild effects.
As for protection against pollen, the CDC has some tips. The agency recommends staying up to date with pollen forecasts, spending less time outdoors when levels of pollen soar, not touching the eyes when outdoors, washing hands upon indoor entry, changing clothes and showering after spending time outdoors, taking allergy medications, and keeping windows closed during this season.
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