Trouble has started earlier this year for allergy sufferers and this year might be the worst so far, especially in the eastern part of the country. The pollen count in Atlanta, Georgia, where a count of 120 is considered high, has already reached a pollen count of 5,733! ¹

The reason? Global warming.

NASA reports that the past decade so far, 2000 to 2009, has measured as the hottest in terms of average global temperature. ³

Scientist Amanda Staudt of the Northwest Wildlife Federation has released a report on the effect global warming is expected to have this year. 1 She says that climate change could result in a $32 billion cost to the US in terms of allergies and asthma alone. ¹

Higher concentrations of carbon dioxide melts winter snows earlier, brings Spring in earlier (10 to 14 days earlier than 20 years ago) and speeds plant growth. 1,2

Tree pollen is the most common source of hay-fever and climate change, says Staudt, “could allow highly allergenic trees like oaks and hickories to start replacing pines, spruces and firs that generally don’t cause allergies.” ²

Arkansas, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and West Virginia are expected to see the largest increases in allergenic trees and pollen counts. 2

Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Tennessee and Wisconsin are at moderate risk for big surges. 2

As the Southern states get hotter, the allergenic tree species migrate north. 1

Ragweed, the allergy-sufferer’s nightmare, gets a real boost from global warming. 1 Longer growing times are expected to increase ragweed prevalence by 100% from now to 2085, and it’s not only its numbers that are troublesome: carbon dioxide increases ragweed’s allergenic properties by 70%! 1

About 10 million Americans suffer from allergic asthma. 1Pollen increases and ozone pollution is going to hit them hard. “We’ve already seen an overall doubling of asthma in the US since 1980,” says Paul Epstein of Harvard’s Center for Global Health and the Environment. “We can’t afford it to get worse.”1

Mike Trinagle of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says allergies and asthma affect about 50 million Americans as it is and costs the US $27 billion in medical costs and almost $6 billion in lost productivity and earnings. 2

Dr. Blahnik steps, if I were you…..

• Healthy Body/Brain Connection: Spinal Corrective Care Chiropractic (this is not pain management Chiropractic) adjustments to remove pressure and interference on the nervous system, paying particular attention to how the atlas (C1-2) is positioned against the brain stem. Remove any damaging pressure to allow the body to function at a higher level.
• Hydrate properly with a minimum of 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water per day. (for example 100lbs / 2 = 50 ounces of water (H2O) per day.
• Cod Liver Oil: 1 Tbsp. for adults 150 lbs. or more, 2 tsp. 80-150 lbs., 1 tsp. 50-80 lbs.
• CoQ10 recommended dosage amount
• Drink Mega Organic Veggie Greens 2-3x daily.
• Eliminate grains and sugars: Replace them with vegetables and berries
• Eliminate Dairy: replace with coconut milk, almond milk or rice milk
• Eliminate and restrict artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.
• Eliminate exposure to potential neurotoxins (such as lead, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides) in the environment and many vaccines.
• Acupuncture have had some success in relieving allergy symptoms
• Consider a Complete Metabolic Profile Test, Heavy Metal Toxicity Test and Food Allergy Testing

1. Walsh, Bryan (2010, Apr. 14). Allergies Worse Than Ever? Blame Global Warming. Time Magazine [online]. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1982033,00.html
2. Behman Al (2010, Apr. 15). Allergies worse? Climate change could be culprit, study finds. USA Today [online]. Retrieved from http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/04/allergies-worse-climate-change-is-the-culprit-study-finds-/1
3. Zabarenko, Deborah (2010, Apr. 14). Exclusive: Climate change could raise cost of allergies. Reuters [online]. Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63D38020100414