The humid, welcoming spring weather, combined with COVID-19 vaccinations, is enticing people to gather outside. However, for allergy sufferers, the air packs a powerful punch that can force them to retreat indoors.
Pollen clouds are wafting over cities from Maine to Alabama, leaving millions of people with watery eyes, headaches, and rashes. The year 2021 is shaping up to be another difficult one for allergy sufferers. In the same way that 2020, 2019, and 2018 did.
People allergic to pollen experience symptoms similar to colds such as runny or stuffy nose, watery eyes with itchy nose, and sometimes, the roof of the mouth.
The pattern is undeniable: allergy risk is increasing over time. Pollen seasons are becoming longer and more intense as a result of climate change. More suffering is on the way as the world continues to warm.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America noted about 50 million Americans suffer from allergies, and as pollen counts rise, more people may develop allergies.
The study, titled "The Economic Impact of Allergic Rhinitis and Current Guidelines for Treatment," said that the cost of treating nasal allergies has now surpassed $3.4 billion a year in the United States. Pollen-induced asthma attacks also resulted in 20,000 emergency room visits in the United States per year.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a complication this year, as it was last year. Many people are unsure if the infection or pollen is to blame for their symptoms.
Face masks can provide some relief to allergy sufferers, but they leave the eyes exposed. However, as the world warms, allergy sufferers will have a tougher time seeking a safe haven.
Science & Plants for Schools claimed that pollen grains vary in size from 200 microns to 10 microns. Smaller grain has a better chance of penetrating deeper into the lungs. Pollen grains as small as a grain of sand will find their way indoors. And researchers are determining how often our own environmental insults are to blame.
How Climate Change Makes Allergies Worse
Allergies are caused by the immune system responding abnormally to something that is otherwise harmless. This may cause irritating but minor symptoms such as hives or itchy eyes. However, it may also result in life-threatening symptoms such as anaphylaxis, which causes blood pressure to drop and airways to swell shut.
One of the most common allergens is pollen. Plants produce it as part of their reproductive cycle. Pollen production varies by plant species, with trees peaking in the spring, grass peaking in the summer, and ragweed peaking in the fall.
More pollen is produced over a longer time as a result of the combination of these two factors.
ALSO READ: COVID-19 vs. Seasonal Allergies: 5 Symptoms That Can Tell the Differences
How To Tell If You Have Seasonal Allergy or COVID-19
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, several symptoms correlate with COVID-19 and allergies, such as a runny nose and a lack of smell.
Some people with COVID-19, on the other hand, have no symptoms at all. There's also no excuse why anyone couldn't have both COVID-19 and allergies.
Seasonal allergy symptoms and COVID-19 symptoms may be confusing. But USA Today said there are ways to tell them apart.
Allergies often produce some distinct signs, such as itchy eyes and sneezing. Fever, cough, and shortness of breath are some of COVID-19's more unusual symptoms. It's more likely that anyone has coronavirus if they have a headache, body aches, and fatigue.
Suppose you have a respiratory disease caused by pollen exposure, such as asthma, seasonal allergies seldom cause shortness of breath or trouble breathing.
RELATED ARTICLE: Pollen Raises Vulnerability to COVID-19 Infection, Research Finds
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