Blame a perfect storm of weather conditions for the season’s awful allergies, including a snowy, rainy winter in some parts of the country that led to an abundance of tree and grass pollen; a sudden shift from wintry to warm weather that encouraged the pollen’s release; and windy conditions that sent particles airborne, where they enter our noses, throats, and eyes and trigger symptoms that range from congestion, sneezing, and itchy eyes to headaches, diarrhea, and even depression. Indeed, pollen and mold spore counts hit all-time highs in certain parts of the country, making people prone to seasonal allergies even more miserable than usual, and even setting off allergies in people who usually don’t get them. “It’s been a difficult and intense spring for people with allergies,” says Mitchell R. Lester, MD, president of the New England Society of Allergy. The five worst cities for allergies this spring are Knoxville, Tenn; Louisville, Ky; Charlotte, N.C.; Jackson, Miss., and Chattanooga, Tenn., according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, which uses an algorithm that includes airborne pollen and mold counts, and the number of allergy medications taken and allergy specialists available in each city. Seasonal Allergies on the Rise Aside from this season’s unique weather conditions, the incidence and severity of allergies (which are an overreaction of the immune system to harmless substances, like pollen or mold) seems to be increasing for other reasons too. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis has increased substantially over the past 15 years; now 10 to 16 percent of U.S. adults are estimated to have allergies, which cost the healthcare system $18 billion annually. There are no definitive answers as to why allergy rates are increasing. One theory is that climate change has gradually been making allergy season last longer, according to a recent study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Rising carbon dioxide levels allow things like ragweed, fungal spores, and poison ivy to thrive,” says Lewis Ziska, study author and a plant physiologist with the USDA’s crop system and global change laboratory. Coping With Allergy Misery So what can you do if allergies are hitting you harder than ever, or for the first time? Here, the best ways to survive the season: Learn more in the Everyday Health Allergy Center.
