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Log In Video & Photos Top StoriesVideoPhotosClimate NewsAward-Winning Investigations Health & Activities Allergy TrackerCold & FluWater ScarcityAir Quality Forecast TV & Weather Alexa SkillWatch LivePersonalities Weather Products Alexa Skill Privacy Data RightsPrivacy Policy TodayHourly10 DayWeekendMonthlyRadar Videos More ForecastsMore Specialty Forecasts Yesterday's WeatherAllergy TrackerFishingCold & FluAir Quality Forecast Advertisement Allergy New Study Says Climate Change Is Indeed Making Your Allergies Worse By Ally Hirschlag April 16, 2021 If you've been sneezing and rubbing your eyes more and more each year, you're not alone. Pollen season is getting longer and more intense thanks to Climate Change. [gettyimage][gettyimage] (Getty Images/Martin Leigh) Scientists have made this connection before, but a recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that analyzed long-term pollen data found that pollen concentrations have increased by over 21% in North America, and the season is over 20 days longer than it was in 1990. The paper analyzed changing pollen counts across 60 North American stations from 1990 to 2018. The researchers also looked at several climate models to see what role climate change played in these increases. They found that human-caused climate change was the main driver of longer, more intense pollen seasons over the last three decades. How climate change impacts allergies Aside from warmer temperatures, higher concentrations of CO2 and forms of air pollution are contributing to more intense allergy seasons. When air pollution particulates attach to pollen grains, it can make them explode into tiny pieces that easily get into your respiratory tract. CO2 can also make plants bloom more, which results in even more pollen. The uptick in pollen counts could have major, long-lasting impacts on respiratory health, especially for people with preexisting respiratory illnesses like asthma. But even people who've never had allergies before might start experiencing them, and become more susceptible to viral infections which enter the body through the respiratory tract. (MORE: Top 10 Worst Places to Live in the U.S. for Allergy Sufferers) Increased pollen counts aren't the only things that might have you reaching for the tissues. Scientists have also found that pollen has become more potent, so less pollen could trigger a reaction comparable to a higher concentration of pollen several years ago. Advertisement While pollen season extends into the fall, the study found the biggest increases in pollen concentrations happen in the spring. This makes sense considering how many pollen-producing plants begin to bloom in the spring. Researches also noted the largest, most consistent pollen increases were in Texas and the midwestern United States. What you can do to keep your allergies in check Aside from using over-the-counter antihistamines and other allergy medications to treat symptoms, you can try and avoid exposure to pollen as much as possible. Check your local pollen alerts, and on high pollen count days, keep your windows closed and stay inside from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. If you have to go out for a while, leave your shoes outside when you come back, and take your clothes off to wash as soon as you come inside. It's also a good idea to shower at night since pollen can get trapped in your hair. Vacuuming regularly and buying a couple HEPA air filters will also help keep allergies at bay while your inside your home. The Weather Company's primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM. More Articles [614basebal][614basebal] Kids Keep Playing as Meteor Soars Above FL [79hawaiipe][79hawaiipe] Historic Site in Hawaii Vandalized [78lightnin][78lightnin] Watch Moment Car is Struck by Lightning [0625bottle][0625bottle] Message in a Bottle Proves Priceless See More Advertisement Most Popular [5dc04cc3-9][5dc04cc3-9] Cold or Flu? 9 Ways to Tell the Difference [fallallerg][fallallerg] Which City Is the Worst for Fall Allergies This Year? 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