If you live in the southern or eastern parts of the United States and feel like your pollen allergies are getting worse, you're not wrong. Early data indicates that pollen levels have been growing faster than normal because of an unusually warm February.

The southern and eastern regions of the USA have already seen a dramatic rise in pollen levels. For example, the allergen count in Atlanta exceeded the "extremely high" range last Monday, earlier than any time recorded in the past 30 years by the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma physicians practice.

Temperatures that went above the usual in February are to blame for the pollen burst. Scientists are cautioning that due to global warming, allergy season is beginning ahead of schedule and stretching out longer. A recent report from Climate Central showed how higher temperatures have had an effect on the start and length of allergy season in over two hundred U.S. cities since 1970.

The study revealed that the average growing season length has risen 16 days in the Southeast, 15 days in the Northeast, and 14 days in the South. Furthermore, in the West, the growing season is even more extended, at 27 days.

The prolonged growing season results in a prolonged pollen season, which can be troublesome for many people and induce severe asthma attacks in those who are at risk.

The CDC states that 24 million people in the United States experience respiratory allergies caused by pollen. During springtime, when plants propagate, they produce minuscule pollen grains which are dispersed through the air and are able to be inhaled by people.

It is feared that if pollen season is extended, it could lead to an alarming public health crisis. Climate change is causing winters to be milder, which in turn will cause the amount of pollen circulating in the air to dramatically increase.

Mold allergens have been rising in number. This fungus is a frequent cause of allergies for millions of Americans. Moist and mild weather conditions usually lead to more mold development, so it is unsurprising to hear that mold levels are also going up.

Apart from the wetter pattern prompting greater mold formation, intense rainfalls heighten the probability of even more mold. To demonstrate, Climate Central showed in its most recent report that a correlation exists between thunderstorms and allergens. The large number of extreme weather occurrences in the South this winter certainly played a role in the extended mold spore population.

Even though you have no power over the amount of pollen and mold present or when they will affect you, you can still take steps to control your symptoms. Learning what brings on your allergies can assist in minimizing the discomfort. To reduce your contact with pollen, try to stay inside early in the morning and later in the day.

To ensure pollen does not get into your living space, you should shut the windows in your residence and vehicle. Regularly changing the air filters on your home's HVAC system can go a long way in deterring these particles.

Don't wait until your allergies are out of hand to get the medications you need - it is particularly important to have a steroid nasal spray available. In high pollen areas, these medications can be scarce. It is useful to be conscious that allergy season is getting longer and starting sooner so that you can make the right choices when it comes to treatment and prevention.