An "allergy explosion" in the U.S. is being blamed on climate change by researchers from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
An increase in the number of people diagnosed with seasonal allergies for the first time has been especially severe in the northwest and southwest, NBC News reported. Still, the eastern part of the country and the southern Midwest seem to be the worst for allergies, with McAllen, Texas, near the Mexico border being ranked highest on the survey.
Allergist Dr. Clifford Bassett calls it an "allergy explosion," NBC News reported.
Researchers theorized that warmer, wetter winters may lead to higher pollen counts and help explain why both spring and fall allergy seasons are lasting up to 27 days longer than previous years, NBC News reported.
The Daily Mail reported that trees are releasing their pollen sooner in the season and keeping it for longer than before. For some, allergies are severe enough to require a sick day; 17 million days of work are missed because of allergies every year.
Pollen is released by the male parts of tree flowers in spring, and when people’s bodies come into contact with it, their immune systems can overreact and cause sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, and sniffles.
“Swings in temperature and climate change are certainly an issue with respect to allergies,” President and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) Kenneth Mendez said, the Daily Mail reported.
Climate change also can cause longer growing seasons and more warm weather, which leads to earlier pollen release, Mendez said. Higher carbon dioxide levels make plants grow longer and better, increasing pollen and other allergens.
Allergies can also combine with asthma to cause serious asthma attacks, which kill about 11 people a day, the Daily Mail reported.
Weather agencies now report days with especially high pollen counts so allergy sufferers can be prepared, either avoiding outdoor activities or wearing a hat and sunglasses to protect them from exposure. Other pollen-fighting steps include taking off your shoes when inside and taking a shower after being outside.