This allergy season is something to sneeze at

Misty May-treanor, threetime gold medalist in beach volleyball, was batting away allergy symptoms as she spiked the ball over the net. Scarlett Johansson is extremely allergic to grass and trees. Even Jon Bon Jovi contends with allergies: “I never worry about singing or playing or ... anything like that. I’m more into, ‘Can I breathe tonight?’”

Well, for that trio and 60 million other Americans, seasonal and year-round allergy symptoms could be getting worse. It seems that climate change leads to higher pollen concentrations and longer pollen seasons.

U.S. data from 1995 to 2014 reveals how it has already started to happen, and according to a new study in Nature Communications, by the end of the century, the pollen season here will start up to 40 days earlier and last up to 19 days longer.

Allergies to pollen (and to indoor irritants like dust mites, smoke, pet dander and mold) can cause rhinitis -- plugged sinuses, drippy nose, sore throat, sneezing and wheezing. If you’re having a hard time this spring, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology says you may want to try allergy shots or sublingual immunotherapy tablets -- an under-the-tongue daily therapy. They can reduce symptoms substantially or even conquer the allergy. There are also non-drowsy allergy pills, sprays and decongestants for immediate relief.

To check pollen levels and find out about medications, visit the National Allergy Bureau (with 80 stations reporting pollen levels nationally) and the AAAAI Drug Guide at www.aaaai. org; search for “National Allergy Bureau” and for “Drug Guide.”