Dry Weather, Wind Exacerbate Allergies

[Guest guest]

Dry Weather, Wind Exacerbate Allergies

By Jim Becker, KOLD News 13 Reporter

Posted 5-23-06

KOLD News 13 Tuscon

http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=4940944 & nav=OPQK

Researcher Mark Sneller says the pollen has blown away, and it's too

dry for mold.

So why are people still getting sick?

It's been warm, dry and windy, he says. Typically, windy weather

brings pollen counts up, but not this week. " That sort of violates

the rule, " says Sneller.

" Usually, these are nasal problems, lots of eye irritation, but it

can be chest symptoms, like coughing, wheezing. " adds Dr. Leonard

Schultz, an allergy and asthma specialist. " The dryness actually

can pre-dispose toward worsening of allergies. "

Schultz says he saw two emergency cases of severe respiratory

illnesses in one morning, something he says is quite rare, and

something he attributes to warm, dry and windy weather.

He recommends allergy sufferers stay indoors with windows closed as

much as possible, washing out sinus cavities with a salt-water

solution, using a humidifier and vacuuming your home regularly.

[Guest guest]

This is in line with what I read from lung assoc that high

particulate count in air seemed to correlate to more illnesses. Dry

ground and surfaces probably kick more particles into the air and

blow around. Even if mold can't grow in the dryness, there would be

mold spores, and other microbes, in dry dirt since it is everywhere

so if you breath it in, it will grow in the moisture you provide in

sinuses and lungs. AZ seems to be good for arthritis sufferes who

feel the moisture other places right into their joints, but I don't

think it would be good for allergies or people with sinus problems

but then I'm not sure. I did notice NM mentioned as having good

air. There are parts of NM which are beautiful. Montana, etc., CO.

I'd love to live in CO but bet it is expensive.

--- In , " tigerpaw2c " <tigerpaw2c@...>

wrote:

>

> Dry Weather, Wind Exacerbate Allergies

>

> By Jim Becker, KOLD News 13 Reporter

> Posted 5-23-06

> KOLD News 13 Tuscon

>

> http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=4940944 & nav=OPQK

>

>