Pollen allergies and other seasonal infections such as Hay fever are often some of the most serious and dreadful allergies that happen around this time of year. However, with a change in climate health experts and researchers are expecting these allergies and Hay Fever to continue for some more time.What is Hay fever?Hay fever is scientifically known as allergic rhinitis, which is an inflammatory response of the body that occurs when your immune system reacts to harmless airborne particles. It turns serious when you inhale allergens like pollen, dust mites, or pet dander, which the immune system mistakenly identifies as a threat and releases chemicals such as Histamine into the bloodstream.
What really happens?This chemical causes the hallmark symptoms of sneezing, nasal congestion, and itchy, watery eyes. While people often call this “hay fever,” which is an allergic reaction; Whereas a “pollen allergy” is simply one specific cause of allergy, which is caused by only pollens. In case if the symptoms are seasonal, they are likely to be triggered by pollen, but if they occur year-round, they are caused by indoor allergens like mold or dust.
Is climate change actually impacting?Climate change is gradually changing the dynamic of human life so much so that even allergies and viruses sustain longer than they did earlier. As per records, pollen seasons across Europe have extended by two weeks more as compared to the 1990s, and so have the heat-related deaths risen across almost the entire continent, as per a report published in a leading daily.
What do experts say about climate and allergies?As per a team of global researchers, the longer pollen seasons are also increasing exposure for tens of millions of people with hay fever and other allergies. At the same time, extreme heat warnings have also risen 318 per cent over the same period. Out of all European regions monitored by researchers, around 99.6 percent saw heat-related deaths rise between 2015 and 2024 compared with 1991-2000, with an average increase of 52 extra deaths per million people each year.