Are you sneezing a lot lately? Get used to it...

Allergies could be at an all-time high this season.

If you’ve been sneezing a little more lately – it’s not just you. According to Estelle Levetin, of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, this year’s fall allergies could last up to 27 days longer than average in much of North America. Fall allergies go from mid-August through the first autumn frost. Mold, dust mites and ragweed are the most common triggers.

The number of Americans with allergies is much higher now than it was 30 years ago. Some of it can be blamed on genes – but longer pollen seasons aren’t helping. We’re also a lot cleaner than we used to be which means we’re exposed to less dirt and bacteria which can cause our immune systems to overreact to otherwise harmless substances like pollen.