Seasonal allergies are getting worse. Here’s why

If your seasonal allergies seem worse this year, you are not alone. Higher pollen counts, more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and fewer days below freezing are among the factors that have made the spring allergy season longer and more severe, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's 2025 report. This is bad news for the 100 million Americans who have some form of allergies or asthma. PBS News’ Tim McPhillips spoke to allergist and immunologist Dr. Zachary Rubin, creator of the popular TikTok and Instagram channel @rubin_allergy, to explain what's making allergy conditions worse and how you can make spring a bit less stuffy. Watch PBS News for daily, breaking and live news, plus special coverage. We are home to PBS News Hour, ranked the most credible and objective TV news show. Subscribe for exclusive content in our newsletters: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/subscribe PBS News podcasts: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/podcasts Stream your PBS favorites with the PBS app: https://to.pbs.org/2Jb8twG Find more from PBS News at https://www.pbs.org/newshour Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2HfsCD6 Follow us: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pbsnews X: http://www.twitter.com/newshour Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/newshour Facebook: http://www.pbs.org/newshour