World Allergy Week 2024: Allergy is a well being concern in each developed and creating nations. Environmental elements and host elements contribute to allergic reactions in individuals. Host elements similar to race, genetics, age and gender are accountable for triggering allergic reactions. Every 12 months, World Allergy Week is noticed from June 23 to June 29 to debate the methods we will alleviate the danger of allergic reactions, and enhance immunity. Climate change has a vital position to play within the growing danger of allergic reactions all through the world. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr. P Venkata Krishnan, Sr. Consultant, Internal Medicine at Artemis Hospital Gurugram, stated, ” Climate change is a significant environmental challenge that has wide-ranging effects on health, including the prevalence and severity of allergies. Understanding the connection between climate change and allergies is necessary for managing and mitigating its impact on public health.”
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Dr Sunita Chhapola Shukla, Founder and Director, Mumbai Allergy Centre and Head of Dept, Allergy Sciences, Sir HN Reliance Hospital additional defined, “Allergic diseases are on the rise in India due to factors like industrialisation, urbanisation and lifestyle changes. Pollution is related to allergic diseases like allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, allergic conjunctivitis and allergic skin diseases. Pollutants cause oxidative stress which leads to inflammation and hyper reactivity of the airways leading to symptoms like sneezing, running itchy nose, cough, wheezing and itchy watering eyes.”
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Climate change and allergic reactions: How are they associated?
Longer and extra intense pollen seasons:
One of probably the most direct results of local weather change on allergic reactions is the extension and intensification of pollen seasons. Rising international temperatures and heightened carbon dioxide (CO₂) ranges result in longer rising seasons for vegetation, leading to extended intervals of pollen manufacturing. Higher CO₂ ranges additionally stimulate vegetation to provide extra pollen, triggering allergic reactions in individuals.
Increased pollen efficiency:
Climate change extends pollen seasons and will increase the efficiency of pollens. Increased CO₂ ranges can improve the allergenicity of pollen grains, which means they include larger concentrations of proteins that set off allergic reactions. This makes the pollen stronger and may result in extra extreme signs in individuals with respiratory allergic reactions, similar to allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma.
Changes in allergen distribution:
Climate change additionally impacts the geographical distribution of allergenic vegetation. Warmer temperatures allow sure vegetation to develop in new areas the place they beforehand couldn’t thrive. This signifies that individuals who weren’t beforehand uncovered to particular allergens might begin experiencing allergic reactions.
Impact on indoor allergens:
Climate change influences indoor allergens. Increased humidity and hotter temperatures create beneficial situations for mould progress and dirt mites that are frequent indoor allergens. More intense and frequent storms and flooding, additionally pushed by local weather change, can result in water injury in properties, additional selling mould progress. These situations can improve the signs for individuals with indoor allergic reactions and bronchial asthma.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
