Apr 13, 2009 7:14 pm US/Eastern
Global Warming To Blame For Allergy Outbreak
Elevated Levels Of CO2 Causing Heightened Production Of Pollen; Diesel Fuels Creating More White Blood Cells
Exhaust, Industrial Pollution Directly Related To Symptoms
By Dr. MAX GOMEZ, CBS 2 HD News
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Spring is finally arriving, even with the chilly temperatures. But if you suffer from pollen allergies, you already know spring is here.
But did you know your allergies may be getting worse this year? The surprising reason why is global warming.
It may not look like spring is in full bloom yet, but tree pollen is already high. Grass and weed pollen and mold spores won't be far behind.
It's the season that Carolyn Fox has dreaded since she first developed allergies at age 11.
"I couldn't see. My eyes would just swell up, like slits and I couldn't see," Fox said. "I couldn't breathe because my nose was so congested, and my lungs, I would be coughing all the time. I was a real mess."
While it happens every spring, there's some evidence that allergy seasons and allergies may actually be getting worse. The unexpected culprits are air pollution and the global warming it leads to.
"The elevated levels of co2 caused by all the warming are causing a longer pollen season, and they're causing much higher levels of pollen production in trees and grasses and ragweed," Dr. Marjorie Slankard said. "In fact, ragweed, which is fall pollen for example, has a 90 percent increase related just to the elevated co2 levels."
Worse yet, diesel exhaust can cause the body to make more allergy sensitive white blood cells. And the tiny particles that are part of diesel exhaust and other industrial pollution have been shown to combine with pollen, allowing the particles to be inhaled more deeply into the lungs which can cause more symptoms, including triggering asthma.
"And therefore can be breathed in and penetrate deeper into the respiratory tract and cause more symptoms in patients," Dr. Slankard said.
Here are a few tips to minimize your allergies:
* Stay indoors early in the morning when plants are releasing pollen.
* Keep clothes you wore outside separate from clean clothes
* Keep your windows closed and run the air conditioning when possible
* Shower before getting into bed to wash off all the pollen on your clothes and hair.
And don't forget to wipe down Fido or Tabby after they've gone outside. If they've been outdoors, they'll be covered in pollen, which they'll affectionately rub all over you, your clothes, bedding and furniture.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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