Spring allergies are in bloom. Here’s why and what to do about it : Short Wave

April 15, 2025

Ragweed, seen here, can trigger allergies for some people. Ragweed is common in the fall. Research has found that the window for seasonal allergies is getting longer.

Roy Morsch/Getty Images

Roy Morsch/Getty Images

So many plants are blooming right now — and so are people’s allergies.

And if it feels like your allergies, or those of your friends and family, are getting worse — you’re probably right.

That’s according to a review published Wednesday in the journal The Laryngoscope looking at the link between climate change and allergic rhinitis, or hay fever.

So today, we turn back to a classic Short Wave episode from Brit Hanson and Maddie Sofia, who spoke to allergy expert Dr. Juanita Mora about some quick tips for managing seasonal allergies.


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This episode was reported and produced by Brit Hanson. It was fact-checked by Rasha Aridi, and edited by Viet Le. Josh Newell and Robert Rodriguez were the audio engineers.