If your seasonal allergies seem to be bothering you more these days in Minnesota, it's not just your imagination-- the season of sneezes really *is* getting longer.
As we know, Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes. But sometimes in the spring and fall, it can also seem like Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Things That Cause You To Sneeze. Seasonal allergies are no joke, with runny noses, red and itchy eyes, and non-stop sneezes affecting a sizeable amount of the population across our state.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), just under 26 percent of U.S. adults and just under 19 percent of children have been diagnosed with seasonal allergies. When you consider Minnesota's most recent population of just under 6 million, that means around 200,000 Minnesotans struggle with seasonal allergies each year.
And, the amount of time those seasonal allergies affect us here in the Bold North is getting longer and longer, especially in the spring. While we've had cooler temperatures this year, the Star Tribune noted that warmer temperatures in the spring in Minnesota over the last several decades have caused trees to bloom earlier in the year, which then means pollen is released sooner-- and sticks around longer.
This extended growing season, in turn, allows plants to produce more pollen over time, leading to higher pollen counts and more severe allergy symptoms. And, this story from University Cube says that studies have shown that Minnesota's allergy season has been extended by about 27 days since the 1970s!
This means allergy sufferers in Minnesota are now dealing with symptoms for a longer portion of the year, especially in the spring when tree pollen is at its peak. I can relate. I've been used to my seasonal allergies kicking in late summer and early fall, but this year they've been bad this spring as well.
If you, like me, are sneezing longer and more often in Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommends staying informed about local pollen forecasts (much of Minnesota's pollen is either medium or medium-high right now, according to Pollen.com) and taking preventive measures, like starting your allergy medications early, to manage those annoying allergy symptoms effectively.