In a rugby match, things move fast. It is part of the challenge that keeps Iman Fauzi in the game. She serves as the Women's Open Captain for the Orlando Touch Rugby Club.

"Regardless of your age, your gender, your background, everyone has the ability to play, it's very much so that I love playing the sport," she said.

Originally from Malaysia, the Orlando Touch Rugby club has provided Fauzi with a family atmosphere. Her enthusiasm toward the sport is contagious.

"I really enjoy myself when I come out here so that’s why I keep doing it," she said.

But there’s one thing that’s been known to slow her down.

"Because it's such a high-intensity sport, your breathing pathways really need to be good, right? Sometimes that doesn’t play well with my role when I am dealing with allergies, obviously, my nasal passages get clogged up," she said.

It's of the downsides to spending time outdoors among airborne allergens, which come with residing in Central Florida, according to Dr. Andrew Bagg, an allergist with the Allergy Asthma Specialists of Central Florida. 

"Every year, we have pollen in the spring and summer, and fall, it’s year-round pollen here, cause we have good weather, and pollen likes good weather," said Bagg. 

For allergy sufferers like Fauzi, a prolonged pollen season would be detrimental, but it could be a reality in a warming climate according to a recent study authored by Yingxiou Zhang, an atmospheric scientist and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Michigan.

"Based on our research, by the end of the century, the pollen season would become longer… and the pollen season would start earlier in the year," Zhang told Spectrum News 13.  

That’s because of higher carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring gas, but it also comes from human-caused emissions.

Increased carbon dioxide can boost plant growth and lead to more pollen production. If we can reduce emissions, we can slow down warming the planet, and ultimately hope to keep pollen levels contained and keep the sneezes to something more on a seasonal basis, some experts say. 

Which is something Fauzi would appreciate.

"I can’t imagine it being every single day and having to deal with allergies every single day," she said.

Lately, Central Floridians like Fauzi may be feeling those symptoms now that we’re back to higher pollen counts. 

"When winter turns into spring, that’s the hardest part because my body is adjusting to new types of pollen," she said.

Fortunately, relief is available. 

Bagg elaborated, "There are a lot of OTC medications, antihistamines, there’s a lot of antihistamines, nose sprays."

Which can help prevent Fauzi from slowing down on the pitch, and encourage others to join her out there.

"It's very welcoming, very friendly … no matter where you are in your skill level, you’ll always be able to grow and get better so that’s why I love it so much," she said.