How does the environment affect our allergies?

Posted: 25th January 2023 | Posted by Costa

How does the environment affect our allergies?

We can definitely be allergic to triggers in our environment. Pet dander, dust, mites, pollen – these are all in our surrounding environments and can cause varying levels of discomfort and reactions. But outside of being the source of our allergies, can the world around us affect them in other ways?

That’s not an unpopular theory, and there are plenty of studies out there into the effects of the environment on our health. From pollution to climate change, there are people looking into how these changes impact our health. So let’s look at some of these ideas and see what their link with allergies might be.

Pollution

There is very little to suggest that air pollution leads to people developing allergies, but many studies have shown that it can exacerbate them. It makes sense; smoggy air is likely to impact respiratory allergies in particular. One study showed that particulates in the air increases asthma symptoms. Another found a link to NO2 levels and emergency room visits of children with asthma.

It has also been shown to affect allergic rhinitis, which is when your nose gets irritated by something you’re allergic to. Examples would include pollen, pet dander, and dust. Research found that living near major roads increased the odds of babies having runny noses and sneezing during their first year of life.

Climate change

How can climate change impact our allergies? Well, some believe it is leading to longer allergy seasons. Here’s how these typically work. Trees, grasses, and weeds will release their pollen at different times of the year, meaning people with sensitivities to these kinds of pollen will react to its presence in the air. It isn’t a huge deal, as it doesn’t last long.

Except climate change seems to be making these pollen-releasing periods longer. So people with allergies will experience symptoms both earlier than usual and longer than they used to. Not to mention that climate change has been linked with increased concentrations of air pollution.

Are we too clean?

Another popular hypothesis is that we aren’t helping ourselves by sanitising the environments around us. Now, this one isn’t as simple. There has long been a theory known as the ‘hygiene hypothesis’ that says by cleaning away a range of bacteria, pollen, and dander, we’re reducing the chances of children coming into contact with them and familiarising their immune systems.

So as they get older and they do come across these allergens, their body doesn’t know how to react and goes into overdrive. But some take issue with this since it tries to draw a link between cleanliness and allergies. These people say that focusing on hygiene is too broad, and that it’s more about specific microbes that might not get as much exposure. And by looking too closely at hygiene, we could be at risk of promoting good cleaning habits.

What can we do to help? All you can do is continue to do your part for the environment and protect yourself as much as possible. Keep your home clean and free of anything that might aggravate your symptoms. And if you ever need any advice, we’re always just a phone call away.

Get in touch with our specialists by calling 02031 433 449. If you haven’t already done so, you can register as a patient with us by clicking here.