Newswise — The mold count for the Midwest is 60,000 – more than the 50,000 threshold that signals a dangerous air quality warning. “Three air quality alerts in 11 days means serious respiratory trouble for many with asthma, allergies and sensitive systems,” said Dr. Joseph Leija, who performs the Gottlieb Allergy Count, the official allergy count for the Midwest. This is the third air quality alert he has issued in less than two weeks. The first alert on Aug. 3 was for a recorded 125,000 mold spores per cubic inch of air - an historic high. “Symptoms felt by sufferers today include fatigue, congestion and headaches,” said the Loyola allergist who has performed the Gottlieb Allergy Count for more than a decade.
The official Gottlieb Allergy Count today is: Mold Very High, Weeds Moderate, Ragweed Moderate. “The much-needed rains in this drought-ridden area are a relief to farmers and gardeners but combined with hot, sunny and humid days they make for toxic breathing conditions,” Dr. Leija says. “Ragweed is also now contaminating the air at moderate levels and that is the single allergen that brings the most misery to allergy sufferers.”
Dr. Joseph Leija, allergist at Loyola’s Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, is solely certified by the National Allergy Bureau to perform the daily official allergy count for the Midwest. “Run the air conditioning which takes moisture out of the air as well as acts as a filter to remove toxins, try to stay indoors as much as possible and contact your allergist to discuss adjusting medications,” Dr. Leija advises to those most at risk today.
The Gottlieb Allergy Count is available to the public, in English, Polish and Spanish, through Twitter; at www.GottliebHospital.org and at 1-866-4-POLLEN (476-5536).
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