It is becoming more and more common in my practice. A patient arrives and says: “Doc, I was never the type to have allergies, I’ve never experienced this many sneezes; it’s the first time in my life that, lately, I’ve started sneezing, my nose is runny, my eyes itch, my throat and nose itch, I feel nasal congestion, and I even think I’m starting to snore.”
These are patients who perhaps always carried a genetic predisposition, inherited from parents or siblings with allergic histories, and yet this condition had never manifested before. And this is not a coincidence: it has a lot to do with something I believe we still aren’t giving the attention it truly deserves: climate change.
Allergies by the Numbers
- Today, between 400 and 600 million people worldwide have some type of allergy.
- By 2050, half of the global population will be allergic (WHO).
- Trees’ pollen, which used to begin in September, now starts in August. It is earlier and lasts longer.
A phenomenon that can no longer be underestimated
This rise can be explained by the combination of genetic predisposition—heritage from parents or relatives with allergic histories—and changes in the environment and in our lifestyle.
Climate change plays a central role in this growth, and as a physician I want to underscore this point with full emphasis.
With higher temperatures, the photosynthesis of trees and plants becomes more intense, which speeds up pollen release. And with the wind, pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds is carried much more easily. The result: longer and more intense allergy seasons.
Why It Should Not Be Underestimated
The biggest mistake I see is people self-medicating. And I want to be clear about this: respiratory allergy must not be underestimated. It directly affects the quality of life and well-being of the person suffering from it. When not treated promptly, this condition can undermine the individual’s overall well-being and life quality, causing irritability, physical fatigue, cognitive disturbances, and also concentration problems.
We see this a lot in kids: after a day spent sneezing, congested, struggling to breathe, they are not in a position to sit down and do their homework. It also impacts sleep: nasal obstruction leads to poor sleep, which translates into fatigue and lower performance the next day, often resulting in work or school absences.
Breathing Well Starts with the Nose
One point I always emphasize in consultation: air should always enter through the nose and not the mouth. Why? Because as it passes through the nasal passages, the air warms to about 32 degrees, humidifies to around 80%, and the particles in the environment that irritate it are filtered out.
When this does not occur properly, over time irritation develops, leading to congestion, nasal obstruction, and a characteristic nasal voice (rinolalia). Additionally, air entering through the mouth due to nasal obstruction has a different quality, which also leads to snoring and poorer sleep quality.
Myths and Truths About Allergy
“If I was never allergic, this won’t happen again” False. As a physician, I see it all the time: genetic predisposition may have always been present, but you didn’t manifest it until now, perhaps due to climate change triggered by environmental shifts. “It’s just a matter of enduring a few days with the antihistamines I have at home.” False, and this is the most common mistake.
Self-medicating without a diagnosis can delay proper treatment and allow a disease to progress, which, if uncontrolled, affects sleep, concentration, and daily performance. “Are allergies only a spring or autumn issue? Should we now speak of Intermittent or Persistent Allergies and their grade: Mild, Moderate, or Severe?”
My Recommendations to Prevent Complications
- Precisely identify which allergen affects you, if possible.
- Keep environments ventilated and clean, and monitor household humidity.
- Avoid cigarette smoke.
- Maintain healthy hygienic and dietary habits.
- Clean with damp cloths.
- Avoid perfumes or scented products.
- Never self-medicate.
The Consultation Makes a Difference
Today, it is important to arrange an interconsultation with a specialist in Allergy. For early diagnosis and to initiate the appropriate treatment, we have a wide therapeutic arsenal to help the patient reclaim their quality of life, avoid workplace and school absenteeism, and not bear the consequences of poorly controlled disease. Breathing well is not a luxury: it is health, rest, and focus. And this time, listening to the body can be as simple as not underestimating a sneeze.
Source: Dr. Stella Maris Cuevas, ENT physician (MN: 81701), expert in smell and allergy. Former President of the Otolaryngology Association of the City of Buenos Aires (AOCBA).
