"Is there more pollen in the air?"
Dr. Megan Stauffer • October 16, 2017
More pollen, longer seasons
Every year in the allergy clinic, we hear from our patients that this is “the worst pollen season ever.” But is this true? Is there more pollen now than there used to be? According to a study recently presented at the World Allergy Organization, there actually is more pollen now than there was in the 1990s. The study found that from 1994 to 2010 the “average peak value and annual total of daily counted airborne pollen have increased by 42.4% and 46.0%, respectively.” Wow! That is a big increase! Also, the pollen season is now starting 3 days earlier than it did in the 1990s. So not only do we have more pollen in the air, we’re also exposed to the pollen for a longer period of time.
Unfortunately this trend of more pollen and longer seasons is likely to continue.
The study concluded that “these changes are likely due to recent climate change and particularly the enhanced warming and precipitation at higher latitudes in the [continental United States].” Unfortunately, this trend of more pollen and longer seasons is likely to continue.
If you are feeling the impact of the higher pollen counts and longer seasons, come see one of our board certified allergists, who can help you find a way to survive these increasingly heavy pollen seasons.
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If you spend any time browsing the internet or social media, you’ve likely seen advertisements for mail-in allergy kits. They promise to test for hundreds of food intolerances and environmental sensitivities using just a few strands of your hair or a quick saliva swab. It sounds incredibly convenient, painless, and comprehensive. But if it sounds like a gimmick, it probably is. While these mail-in tests are heavily marketed, they often lack scientific backing and can leave patients feeling more confused than comforted. The Science of Allergy Testing. What Are We Looking For? To understand why hair and saliva tests don't work, we have to look at how the immune system reacts to allergens. When you have a true allergy, your body produces a very specific type of antibody called IgE (Immunoglobulin E) . These antibodies bind to mast cells (allergy cells), which are on high alert to protect you from perceived invaders like pollen, dust mites, or specific food proteins. The fundamental flaw with mail-in hair and saliva kits comes down to basic biology: Wrong Locations: Mast cells and IgE antibodies are not traditionally found in your hair follicles or saliva. Unreliable Results: Because these testing methods are looking in the wrong place, they are highly unstandardized and unvalidated. You are highly likely to get a flood of false positives or false negatives that are impossible to interpret accurately. What the Experts Say: Major medical organizations strongly advise against these methods. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) explicitly recommends against using hair analysis for food allergy evaluations due to a lack of diagnostic value. Furthermore, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) have issued strong practice guidelines stating that hair analysis should not be used to evaluate food allergies. The Big Misconception: IgE vs. IgG Many mail-in companies charge anywhere from $150 to upwards of $600 for "sensitivity" panels. When patients produce these multi-page reports, the testing is almost always checking for IgG (Immunoglobulin G) antibodies, not IgE. There is a massive difference between the two:
