Suicide spikes among allergy sufferers of pesky pollen

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Pollen. One word for allergy sufferers can cause a tickle in the nose, tears in the eyes, and maybe even the start of a bumpy hive.

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And while seasonal allergies may make a person angry at the outside world, researchers have suggested that allergies may increase the risk of suicide among sufferers.

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New study published in the journal Journal of Health Economics found that this mortality rate tends to increase on certain days, especially during times when the pollen forecast is moderate or worse.

Researchers from Wayne State University analyzed daily pollen counts and suicide data in 34 U.S. metropolitan areas over a more than ten-year period from 2006 to 2018.

They found that suicide deaths increased by 5.5% on days with moderate pollen levels compared to days with low or no pollen levels.

“At the highest pollen levels, we observed a 7.4% increase in suicide rates,” said Shushan Danagulian, lead author of the study. press release.

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She noted, “What's particularly concerning is that people with a known mental illness or treatment history saw an even larger increase—8.6%—on days with high pollen counts.”

Itchy eyes and a runny nose may seem like minor inconveniences, but given how they can affect sleep, fatigue concentration, and make a person feel unhappy and moody, these are all known risk factors for suicide.

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The research team also analyzed Google Trends data, where they noted spikes in searches for allergy symptoms and depressive thoughts on days with high pollen counts.

Evidence supports the idea that as well as allergies affecting physical health, it can also spread to those already struggling with their mental wellbeing.

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Scientists have also studied how climate change is intensifying and prolonging pollen seasons, meaning what is now seasonal could become a year-round risk, and even estimate that pollen-related suicides could more than double by the end of the century.

“This is the overlooked cost of climate change,” Danagulian explained.

“We often focus on environmental damage, but here we see clear evidence that climate change may also worsen mental health outcomes in ways that have not yet been fully accounted for.”

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She recognizes that the risks are preventable and seasonal allergies can be easily treated with safe, inexpensive and widely available methods such as antihistamines, nasal sprays and allergy testing.

“Small, accessible medical interventions can save lives,” Danagulian said.

“If controlling allergies can even slightly reduce the risk of suicide, it represents a significant step in addressing one of the most pressing public health crises of our time.”

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