Your nose is sneezing and running. Your eyes are itchy and watering. Maybe you’re even coughing or wheezing more. You know what all this means: the return of allergy season.

Seasonal allergies come back in full force in the springtime, meaning that symptoms will soon become impossible to ignore. However, the increasing intensity of symptoms in recent years have led many to believe that allergy seasons are getting worse. In states like Georgia, it’s already been established that allergy is getting longer, if not more severe. There are various reasons for this, though one particularly important component is climate change. But what exactly is climate change doing specifically to make allergy season so much more extreme? Scholarly sources have continued to point to one contributing factor: higher pollen counts.

While pollen has been around for millions of years, pollen has been steadily making allergy season worse for a few centuries. Ever since the industrial revolution, rising air pollution, decreased time spent in nature, and an increased focus on hygiene have made people more susceptible to allergies. Meanwhile, warmer temperatures and higher carbon dioxide levels have caused pollen counts to skyrocket. Together, our collective susceptibility to allergies and the planet’s increased pollen levels have conspired to essentially create a super allergy season. It’s not necessarily that we were not affected by pollen in the past, it’s that humans have less resistance to allergies in general now, and with more pollen in the air thanks to climate change, seasonal allergies get a little more intense every year.

There is some good news, however. While everyone should do their part to stop climate change, you can also take action to lessen your own personal allergy symptoms this spring. At the Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia, we offer a wide variety of treatments for allergies and immune deficiency disorders. Our highly qualified physicians, allergists, and nurses are committed to finding ways to build up your immune system, and increase resistance to pollen. For comprehensive treatment focused on helping you breathe a little easier this season, contact our Georgia allergists today.

Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia is available by phone at (404) 994-3574, or you can contact us online. Spanish-speaking services are also available.