Allergy seasons across the United States are shifting: they now often start earlier, last longer and produce stronger symptoms. Warmer temperatures and rising CO2 levels are driving greater pollen production, and many people report worse symptoms this spring. Experts also note an increase in adults developing allergies for the first time as the affected population grows.
Lisa Olson-Gugerty, a teaching professor of public health at the Maxwell School, Syracuse University, and a practicing family nurse practitioner, says pollen seasons often begin sooner and overlap between species. When different trees and plants pollinate at the same time, pollen exposure is stacked and continuous. That prolonged immune activation can lead to more severe and persistent allergic reactions. Pollution worsens the issue by making pollen more irritating to the airways.
There is also a risk known as "thunderstorm asthma," when storms fragment pollen grains into very small particles that travel deep into the lungs and can trigger severe asthma attacks. Olson-Gugerty offers a simple rule of thumb: itching usually indicates allergies, while fever and body aches suggest infection. She adds that a common mistake is waiting too long to treat symptoms; allergy medicines work best when started before symptoms peak and using them only as needed is a major reason people struggle each spring.
- Mouth breathing
- Unusual fatigue
- Irritability
- Dark circles under the eyes
Difficult words
- pollen — fine plant grains that cause allergic reactions
- pollinate — to carry or receive pollen between plants
- overlap — to occur at the same time and place
- prolonged — lasting for a longer than usual time
- fragment — to break something into much smaller pieces
- trigger — to cause a reaction or event to start
- thunderstorm asthma — asthma attacks caused when storms break pollen
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How might earlier and longer allergy seasons affect people’s daily routines or work during spring?
- What practical steps could someone take to reduce pollen exposure when multiple plants pollinate at the same time?
- How should health advice or public warnings change because of risks like thunderstorm asthma?
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