A new study shows just how serious Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) really is. This condition is the most common cause of adult-onset allergies in the United States. The AGS response leads to a dangerous allergic reaction to red meat. In less than a decade since the first documented case in 2009, diagnoses of this condition have surged up to nearly 12,000. Specifically, researchers noted a jump from just 24 cases in that inaugural year to more than 34,000 by 2019. This disease is especially common among suburbanites, where risk factors are amplified by the environment.
Lone star ticks are the main cause of AGS. You can see these ticks primarily in the southeastern, south-central, and mid-Atlantic states of the U.S. The ticks then transmit a sugar molecule called alpha-gal that gets triggered in humans by eating red meat to cause allergic reactions. Currently, test positivity rates for AGS are an alarming 30.5%. Symptoms of this allergy typically manifest two to six hours after consuming meat. They may manifest as hives, vomiting, bronchospasm, hypotension and/or fatigue.
On Long Island, lone star ticks are particularly prevalent across Suffolk County. Their historic and ongoing development has produced optimal landscapes for their invasion to thrive. A team of researchers from the University of North Carolina (UNC) performed a study using computer models. Specifically, they looked at how land development patterns contribute to the risk of AGS. Their research found that open space development to be the most hazardous for AGS. This new development contrasts sharply with the previous images, showcasing tree-lined streets and large natural buffers and mixed forests.
“Understanding environmental factors affecting AGS risk is important for identifying at-risk populations for intervention strategies (e.g., educational campaigns and diagnostic testing),” – UNC study authors
Given AGS’s growing ubiquity, public health officials have started getting out ahead of them. To help prevent New Yorkers from developing AGS, NYC Health + Hospitals has released recommendations that seek to lower the risk of developing AGS. Explore more Shower recommendations. These guidelines suggest showering within two hours of outdoor exposure. This allows you to more easily remove any ticks that have latched onto you.
The consequences of AGS are far reaching—not just in terms of individual health, but in relation to public health initiatives. As more and more people are diagnosed, figuring out the environmental drivers of this allergy will be key.
“AGS is the leading cause of adult-onset allergies in the US, with test positivity rates of 30.5%,” – researchers
Health experts are beginning to wake up to the connection between suburban living and AGS. They both highlight the ways that lifestyle and environment intersect to determine health outcomes. Nature break Urban sprawl often fills in important natural areas. By creating more opportunities to come into contact with lone star ticks, this raises the chances of contracting AGS.
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