MIAMI.- With the arrival of the spring season, there is also a time of seasonal allergies that bring with them a series of symptoms that can become an experience of discomfort and discomfort for many people allergic to pollen.
Spring allergies, also known as hay fever, are a condition that affects people throughout the year, but they are more common in spring, as the immune system reacts to plant pollen and other external factors.
This year, millions of Americans are preparing to face a longer and more intense season of allergic symptoms, ranging from persistent sneezing, watery eyes, itchy throat, nasal congestion to life-threatening breathing difficulties due to the release of pollen from trees, grasses, and flowers that are dispersed throughout the air.
In 2021, approximately 81 million people in the United States were diagnosed with seasonal allergies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 in 4 adults and almost 1 in 5 children suffer from seasonal allergies.
Climate change
A recent study conducted by the website Healthline reveals that as a consequence of different factors such as climate change, allergy seasons are starting earlier and spreading more and more than before, especially in the northern and southeastern regions of the country, which may have consequences for those most vulnerable to this type of illness. allergies.
The prolongation of allergy seasons results from increased temperatures, rain, carbon dioxide levels in the air and precipitation, which cause plants to grow more and produce more pollen, for longer periods of time, affecting approximately 60 millions of Americans.
According to Healthline, an increase in the severity of symptoms has been observed, with people experiencing allergies and conditions such as severe asthma attacks, difficulty breathing and skin rashes.
By 2024, trees reached a near-record early flowering peak, moving about a week ahead of 1921.
This change has been observed in some places in parts of the Midwest of the United States, such as the Ohio River Valley, which has experienced earlier than usual spring leaf emergence, according to the US National Phenology Network, which has 40 years estimating the arrival of spring throughout the national territory.
Another example is the famous cherry blossoms in Washington, DC, caused by periodic flooding of the tidal basin, which has accelerated their peak bloom.
What was evidenced in a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2022, which found that the pollen season is starting about 20 days earlier than usual, compared to 1990, which means it is 10 days longer.
Additionally, researchers discovered a 21% increase in pollen concentration levels over the past three decades, a phenomenon that is due to plants having more time to flower and release pollen under conditions of longer warm days.
Preventions
Given this scenario, allergy experts offer some measures that people can take to minimize allergy symptoms and exposure to pollen, such as keeping windows closed, limiting time outdoors, avoiding going out during times of high pollen concentration. and wear masks outdoors.
Although it is not possible to completely avoid exposure to pollen, in addition to these preventive measures, specialists also advise leading a healthy lifestyle and diet and the use of supplemental medications to combat the effects of pollen and the consequences of seasonal allergies. during spring.
@Lydr05
Source: With information from La Opinion and EuropaPress
