{"id":2336,"date":"2021-06-03T19:45:09","date_gmt":"2021-06-03T23:45:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.entofga.com\/?p=2336"},"modified":"2021-06-03T19:45:11","modified_gmt":"2021-06-03T23:45:11","slug":"why-are-allergies-worse-this-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.entofga.com\/why-are-allergies-worse-this-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Are Allergies Worse This Year?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you feel that your itchy eyes, scratchy throat and sneezing after visiting Piedmont Park<\/a> are getting worse with each passing year, it\u2019s not in your head. Recent research shows that climate change is causing allergy season<\/a> to last longer and pollen concentrations to be higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Study<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The study, entitled \u201cAnthropogenic climate change is worsening North American pollen seasons<\/a>,\u201d was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) in February of this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers measured pollen trends across North America from 1990 to 2018 and found a 20-day increase in pollen season as well as a 21% increase in pollen concentrations across North America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The researchers also used an ensemble of climate models to test what impact climate change has, if any. They found it is the dominant driver in these changes in pollen season duration and pollen concentration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur results indicate that human-caused climate change has already worsened North American pollen seasons, and climate-driven pollen trends are likely to further exacerbate respiratory health impacts in coming decades,\u201d wrote the study authors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allergy Season & COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, the worsening of allergy season in the past year has been offset to some degree by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because more people have spent time indoors, worn masks outdoors and washed their hands more frequently, which helps limit contact with allergens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The COVID-19 precautions may have offered a temporary reprieve, but with vaccinations rolling out and safety restrictions lifting, it won\u2019t be long until we\u2019re feeling the full effects of the worsening allergy seasons to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding Relief from Allergies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best way to reduce allergy symptoms<\/a> is to limit your exposure to allergens. To do this, we recommend\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n