As Climate Changes, So Do Allergies
Longer pollen season, more ozone and more bring stronger symptoms

(HealthDay News) -- If your asthma or allergy symptoms seem to have gotten more severe, it's probably not your imagination.

The reasons may vary, but health and environmental experts say they all stem from the fact that the climate is changing, and changes in environmental factors affect people with asthma or allergies.

The pollen season is getting longer, they say. In many places, there's more water, leading to more mold. There's more asthma-triggering ozone in the air. And, even those with insect allergies won't escape the sting of climate change because experts say that the warmer temperatures in many places mean more allergy-inducing insect stings.

"The climate is changing, and it's changing at an unprecedented rate," Dr. Jeffrey Demain, director of the Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Center of Alaska and a clinical associate professor at the University of Washington, told HealthDay. "Whether it's a natural cycle, or whether humans are the cause, we have to recognize that this is happening," he added.

"Climate change will cause impacts in every area," Demain noted. "Wet areas will get wetter, and drier climates are getting drier."

Dr. David Peden, director of the Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology at the University of North Carolina, told HealthDay that "we're having warmer, wetter winters, which lead to long springs and an increase in seasonal allergens."

And for people with asthma, of greater concern are the increasing levels of ozone in the air, Peden said.

But it's possible to combat this changing world of allergy and asthma triggers, Peden pointed out, and the place to start is with your doctor.

"As mundane as this sounds, if you have allergic disease or asthma, consult with an allergist so that you have maximal therapy and information on seasonal concerns," he said. "If you're in an area with lengthy pollen seasons, allergy shots might be useful."

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, people dealing with seasonal allergies also should remember to:

• Keep doors and windows closed, and run an air conditioner to filter the air. Do the same thing when in a car.
• Wear a face mask if you must be outdoors when pollen is high.
• Shower as soon as you come in from spending time outdoors to get any pollen off your body.
• Vacuum often. If vacuuming bothers your allergies, either wear a face mask while vacuuming or find someone else to do the chore for you.

"Pollens are usually highest in the mornings, but grass is elevated in the morning and evening," he said. "If you're tree- or weed-allergic, plan outdoor activities for the afternoon or evening. If you're grass-allergic, you might want to plan to be outside midday. Warm, sunny, dry days are usually the ones with the greatest pollen."

But he also stressed the importance of not losing sight of the bigger picture: doing what you can to help lessen climate change -- even seemingly small measures such as using compact fluorescent bulbs or driving less.

"Every small step is important," Demain said. "If we all take that step, we can have a big impact."

On the Web

To learn more about dealing with allergies, visit the American Academy of Family Physicians.

SOURCES: HealthDay News; Jeffrey G. Demain, M.D., director, Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Center of Alaska, clinical associate professor, University of Washington, and adjunct professor, University of Alaska, Anchorage; David Peden, M.D., M.S., professor, pediatrics and medicine, associate chairman for research, chief, Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease, and director, Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C.; Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (www.aafa.org)
Author: Serena Gordon
Publication Date: May 31, 2010
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