Seasonal Allergies
The pollen count, now that's a difficult job. Especially if you've got hay fever - Milton Jones
image by: Manna
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It's Not Just You: We ALL Have Seasonal Allergies Now
This spring, for the first time in my 28 years on this Earth, I've suddenly developed seasonal allergies. Let me tell you, it goes far beyond the sniffles. Each person experiences allergies differently, but for me it's a truly unpleasant blend of congestion, itchy throat, and a post-nasal drip (which is just as disgusting as it sounds).
Why have I suddenly been plagued with this suffering after nearly three decades of blissful, allergy-free existence? The answer is in part due to a familiar foe, climate change, and the fact that even a hearty microbiome can't fully shield you from perennial hell.
We've known for awhile that climate change is making allergy season more severe…
Resources
Can you get the coronavirus vaccine if you have seasonal allergies?
Those with seasonal allergies can still receive the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
How to tell seasonal allergies from COVID-19 symptoms
Pollen or pandemic? Here’s what to ask yourself.
Achoo! Climate Change Lengthening Pollen Season in U.S., Study Shows
Among the many disasters climate change is wreaking around the world, scientists have now identified a more personal one: It’s making allergy season worse.
Climate change is making allergy season worse
As climate change warms the planet, pollen season is not only getting more intense, it’s getting longer. What’s more, pollen is becoming more potent for allergic people. This is a problem — whether you suffer from seasonal allergies or not.
How to Minimize Allergies in Your Home
What to do if you’re suffering? Immunotherapy — getting shots that can help desensitize your immune system to an allergen — can help over time, but if you’re not ready for needle treatment, you can take a few other steps to minimize allergens’ effects inside the house.
Pollen is getting worse, but you can make things better with these tips from an allergist
Though recognized by ancient civilizations, seasonal allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma have only increased in prevalence in recent history and are on the rise, now affecting 10 to 30 percent of the world’s population.
The miserable history of seasonal allergies, from ancient China and Greece to today
Every spring, trees and grasses release billions of buoyant pollen granules into the air, using the wind to disburse across the countryside in an effort to reproduce. It’s all about survival; plants that release more pollen have the survival advantage.
The Reason Anxious People Often Have Allergies
There might be a hidden link between seasonal sniffles and mood disorders.
Allergies: Myths and Facts About Seasonal Allergies
Allergies rarely develop as brand new cases as adults. That's not to say it never happens, though. However, many adults experience symptoms afresh and wonder how and why.
Do Seasonal Allergies Make You More Likely to Get Sick?
An allergist explains how those with allergies can take steps to avoid summer colds.
Does taking allergy medication make my allergies worse?
And other answers to the allergy questions you’re too afraid to ask.
How seasonal allergies work — and why they make you so miserable
Seasonal allergies are the immune system's response to the millions of pollen grains — plant sperm cells — floating through the air every spring. By incorrectly interpreting pollen as a health threat, your body triggers an inflammatory response, leading to annoying symptoms like itchy eyes or a runny nose. This is known as allergic rhinitis, or "hay fever."
How to Be Mindful When You Have Seasonal Allergies
“Mild allergic reactions can be frustrating, disruptive and distracting. Mindfulness practices offer a safe and effective way for people experiencing allergies to become present in the moment, and more accepting of their reality.” – Rachael Kable, an Australian mindfulness mentor and host of The Mindful Kind podcast.
Pollen Counts: The Numbers Behind Spring Sneezing
To assess the level of discomfort people may experience when trees and other plants release the fine powder, 71 certified pollen counters located throughout the U.S. monitor the concentration of the irritants in the air.
Still sneezing? Climate change may prolong allergy season
Every year, without fail, summer brings changes to our surroundings: more sunlight, heat, greenness and flowers, among many others. For some people, these changes also mean increasing physical discomfort because along with the flowers, trees and grass comes pollen.
It's Not Just You: We ALL Have Seasonal Allergies Now
Climate change and our microbiome are part of the reason we're all miserable suddenly.
4 clear signs you have seasonal allergies
Don’t confuse allergies with a head cold.
7 Great Products for Seasonal Allergy Relief
Here are a few of our favorite options for minimizing your allergens.
Allergist
Seasonal allergies, like other types of allergies, develop when the body’s immune system overreacts to something in the environment, usually during spring, summer or fall when certain plants pollinate.
CDC
Climate change will potentially lead to both higher pollen concentrations and longer pollen seasons, causing more people to suffer more health effects from pollen and other allergens.
Live Science
Itchy eyes, a congested nose, sneezing, wheezing and hives: these are symptoms of an allergic reaction caused when plants release pollen into the air, usually in the spring or fall. Many people use hay fever as a colloquial term for these seasonal allergies and the inflammation of the nose and airways. But hay fever is a misnomer, said Dr. Jordan Josephson, an ear, nose and throat doctor and sinus specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "It is not an allergy to hay," Josephson, author of the book "Sinus Relief Now" (Perigee Trade, 2006), told Live Science. "Rather, it is an allergy to weeds that pollinate."
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