Newswise — Chicago's mold count is over 81,0000 - well over the 50,000 threshold that signals a dangerous air quality warning. Today's Gottlieb Daily Allergy Count mold count is the highest of the season, and the highest in five years. "Heavy chest and difficulty breathing, runny noses and fatigue will be common among Chicagoans with sensitive respiratory systems," says Dr Joseph Leija, allergist at Loyola Gottlieb Memorial Hospital.
Dr Leija warns that the allergy count is for the outside air alone. "Many patients suffered flooding and, despite attempts to remove all damaged materials, are battling indoor mold that is aggravating their health," he said.
Dr. Leija is solely certified by the National Allergy Bureau to perform the daily official allergy count for the Midwest. "The recent gusty winds, the downpours of rain, the recent hot 90 degree weather, the barometric pressure changes, and the boost in humidity contributed to the dangerously high mold count we are suffering this September in Chicago," he said of his unusual morning count that took him three and a half hours to complete - 45 minutes longer than usual due to the plethora of mold spores that required meticulous counting. "Asthma sufferers should stay indoors and rest as much as possible, take their allergy medications and consult their allergist if symptoms worsen," he advises his patients at Loyola Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park.
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