Longer, more intense allergy seasons expected to continue, UNM professor says

Spring has been a miserable time for people dealing with itchy, watery eyes, runny noses and rashes caused by allergies, and the recent rain in Albuquerque has caused reactions to get worse.

Experts say climate change has contributed to allergy seasons getting more intense and lasting longer.

“This allergy season has been worse than the year prior, which was worse than the (previous years) and we can safely say that this trend is going to continue,” University of New Mexico’s Department of Internal Medicine associate professor Dr. Osman Dokmeci said in an email.

Dokmeci said the seasons are getting longer and more intense resulting in more pollen production, citing a 2016 study on climate change and pollen allergies.

It is “suspected” that increases in greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and warmer temperatures have contributed to this change, he said.

“Ragweed, for example, has been pollinating about 20 days earlier compared to 50 years ago and (is) also lasting for about 20 days longer,” Dokmeci said. “We can expect this trend to continue.”

Controlling the spread of ragweed is “essential for public health and as an adaptation strategy in response to climate change,” the 2016 study states.

Allergy symptoms like sneezing, running noses and throat congestion often come on suddenly and last from a few days to a few months, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.

Rain — including the May 4 storm that produced an inch in parts of Albuquerque — causes pollen particles to burst open, resulting in people with severe allergies to have outbreaks, Dr. Amanda Grippen Goddard, DO, said. In the past couple of weeks, she said she has seen a variety of reactions including people breaking out in hives.

When a person is allergic to pollen, the body treats these tiny particles as invaders. Histamine and other chemicals are released by the body into the bloodstream to combat the pollen and causes allergy symptoms, according to DOH.

There are three main types of pollen: those from trees, weeds and grass.

“Trees like juniper and its family, grass and weed pollens can travel lots and lots of miles with the wind that we have here,” Dokmeci said. “ ... Juniper trees are a year-round or what we call (a) ‘perennial allergen’ that starts to pollinate early and doesn’t stop until the first frost of the year.”

Albuquerque is 79th in the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s annual ranking of the most challenging places to live in for people with allergies. This is based on over-the-counter medicine use, pollen counts and the number of available allergy specialists.

How to address allergies?

The first thing people should do to address the allergies, Dokmeci said, is get tested by a board-certified allergist. People can’t effectively treat them until they know what they are allergic to, and they should not take over-the-counter allergy medicine if they don’t need them, he said.

Dokmeci also suggested:

Using the city of Albuquerque website

• to monitor pollen counts. If it’s a high pollen day, avoid outdoor activities, if possible. Also, look for opportunities to go outside after rain when pollen has cleared up, he said.
• Finding out if they are allergic to grass, because grass allergens are tiny and can easily get in the lungs, causing wheezing and asthma-like symptoms alongside cat and dust mite allergies.
• Hitting the air conditioner recirculation button so they are not exposed to allergens and particulate material from other vehicles.
• Taking a shower after getting home on heavy pollen days.
• Making sure the bedroom is free of furry pets, toys and materials that can collect dust.
• Dusting frequently with a damp cloth and use a vacuum with a highly efficient particulate air (HEPA) filter.

The key, New Mexico State University public health professor Dr. Jagdish Khubchandani said, is for people to identify their allergy triggers like pollen.

“Just like with food, we know what foods suit us and what foods don’t,” he said. “A person should be able to figure out what bothers them in a certain period and in a certain fashion.”