Newswise — The Gottlieb Allergy Count pollen and mold reporting season ended on October 15, 2014 and founder Joseph Leija, MD, retired allergist at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, offers a look back at this year.
The long, extreme winter delayed the start of the reporting season to the end of March as compared to early March in 2013. “April was so unseasonably cold that for the first time in the history of the Gottlieb Allergy Count, the pollen-gathering instrument froze so I could not complete the day’s report,” says Leija, who conducts the official allergy count for the Midwest as certified by the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology. “I reported 139 counts in 2014 compared to 157 in 2013.”
Dr. Leija has generated the Gottlieb Allergy Count for more than two decades. “This season, the Gottlieb Allergy Count reported five very high or dangerous air quality alerts, one for weeds and four for mold while in 2013 there were four over high or dangerous alerts for mold,” he said. “In 2014, there were 53 high mold days and 60 in 2013.” The daily Gottlieb Allergy Count is shared by many local media and is available through Twitter.
In 2014, the Gottlieb Allergy Count recorded the following number of “high” counts: trees – 28, grass – 19, weeds – 24, ragweed – 1 and mold 53.
In 2013, the frequency of “high” counts was: trees – 25, grass – 19, weeds – 23, ragweed – 2 and mold - 70.
“This year, grass pollen was detected much longer past the traditional season, which was likely due to the slow warm up and then intermittent colder weather,” says Leija. The Gottlieb Allergy Count is available March through October due to Midwest weather limitations but allergies occur throughout the year. Dr. Leija suggests the following tips to protect sensitive systems:
• Use saline solution to rinse trapped irritants from the inside of your nose. “The allergens trapped by nose hairs actually distill to a stronger formula and then cause a greater allergic reaction when they are absorbed by the body. Rinsing the inside of the nose eliminates trapped allergens.”
• Real flowers and seasonal plants should be avoided by those with mold and pollen allergies. “Poinsettias, real Christmas trees and wreaths are popular during the holidays but trigger reactions in those with allergies.”• Resist potpourri, scented candles and room fresheners. “Perfuming the air is popular, whether it is in the car, in the home or even use of scented fabric softeners but these all trigger respiratory reactions with those who have asthma or allergies.” • Keep outdoor wear such as shoes, coats, gloves and hats out of indoor air. “Preserve your breathing space and keep items that are used outdoors – whether they are dog leashes, winter wear and shoes – in a closet.”• Wash your hair before sleeping. “Your hair becomes coated with pollen and allergens and then surrounds your face for many hours taxing sensitive systems.” • Take your allergy medication as prescribed. You need to take medication in advance of symptoms to protect against exposures to triggers and irritants.
Weather permitting, Dr. Leija and Gottlieb Memorial Hospital will resume the Gottlieb Allergy Count allergy reporting in March 2015. Every weekday morning at 4:30 a.m., for the past two decades, now 84-year-old allergist Joseph Leija, MD, has climbed the stairs to the rooftop of Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, located just outside Chicago.
There he maintains a scientific pollen-catching machine developed in Britain during WW II to detect poison in the air. The machine records air particles in 2- minute increments during a 24-hour period.
Dr Leija takes the glass slide with the day’s catch – during pollen reporting season, usually April – October – and under a microscope in his office, meticulously identifies and counts every spore. He uses an algorithm created by the National Allergy Bureau, to arrive at the official allergy count for the Midwest – by 7 a.m.
Dr. Leija is the only allergist in the Midwest certified by the National Allergy Bureau to report the official allergy count of the Midwest. He follows a complex series of algorithms to arrive at the daily allergy count and his numbers are used by the association in their daily national reports of allergy activity.
The Gottlieb Allergy Count is available through Twitter: at Gottliebhospital.org and in English at 1-866-4-POLLEN (476-5536).
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