Allergist: Climate Change to Blame for Increased Pollen Count

April 17, 2023
Close-up of spores carried by the wind off of a plant.

There are lots of itchy eyes and runny noses this time of year. And if it seems like this pollen season is worse than usual, you’re not imagining things. Northern Virginia allergist Troy Baker, DO, spoke with Northern Virginia Magazine about why spring allergies are particularly severe this year.

Dr. Baker said pollen season lasts about three weeks longer than it did in the 1980s, and climate change is the culprit.

People are dealing with tree pollen season right now, which lasts until the end of June. But depending on what you’re allergic to, things could just be getting started. Dr. Baker said people who have grass allergies will begin to notice symptoms in May, and weed pollen will become a problem in late summer.

"People probably feel quite miserable right about now," Dr. Baker said. "That’s all I see, almost every day."

To lessen the effects of seasonal allergies, Dr. Baker said people should change their clothes after being outside to prevent the spread of pollen onto their furniture. People should also wipe down their pets after being outside. If symptoms are severe, Dr. Baker recommended patients talk to their doctor about allergy shots. He explained the shots to be similar to an “antibody army” and retrains the body’s response to an allergen.

Learn more about spring allergies in the blog How to Manage Spring Allergies.

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