This year's spring allergy season is one of the worst on record.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, evidence is piling up that you might just want to ride out this spring indoors. Across the country, doctors and allergy sufferers alike are becoming more and more convinced that this is one of the worst allergy seasons ever, even going so far as to refer to the "pollen tsunami" that's overtaking many American cities and towns.
According to CBS News correspondent Jericka Duncan, the northeastern U.S. is one of the biggest "hot zones" for pollen right now, and the wave of allergens shows no signs of retreating into low tide. The region has been literally coated with pollen over the past few weeks, with a heavy, dusty layer covering everything from sidewalks to subway cars.
Doctors in the area are saying that not only are they receiving a higher than average number of calls from people whose allergy symptoms are especially bad this season, they have also been fielding calls from people who have never had allergies until now.
"This particular season, we've been bombarded by phone calls from people experiencing allergy symptoms for the very first time," New York allergist Dr. Clifford Bassett told CBS News. "And not only allergies, but pollen triggered asthma — wheezing. People in their 50s, 60s, and beyond — never had it before."
The main allergy culprits in the Northeast are birch, oak and maple trees, and experts are also pointing to climate change as one of the main drivers of the worsening allergy season. Because of global warming, allergy season is lasting longer and causing plants to release more pollen.
To defend yourself against the pollen tsunami, invest in a home air purifier for allergies today. Contact US Air Purifiers for help finding the right air purifier for your needs.