Mold spores released by harvest contribute to allergy spike

Source: Journal Star, Peoria, Ill.存倉Oct. 02--PEORIA -- While the changing foliage may be a pleasant reminder of the season's turn from summer to fall, the blocked-up noses of many locals is a bitter reminder of the allergies that come along with it.Though pollens and pollutants have long been hassles for allergy sufferers over the years, there's a thought that seasonal allergies have been worsening recently. That means symptoms have been felt by more people this year than in years past.Dr. Kenneth Arnett of OSF Pediatric Allergy agrees with the notion and explains why this may be the case."There has been a slight increase, but a lot of that is people just visiting the doctor more often than in the past," Arnett said. "Some will attribute that to what is known as the hygiene hypothesis."The hypothesis suggests that people today never get what Arnett calls "beneficial bacteria." Without exposure to this bacteria early on in life, people become less immune to othder health risks in the future, including allergies.That doesn't mean that the allergens have changed. There is still one that is more notorious than all the rest: ragweed."Ragweed is the most common allergen in fall," Arnett said. "If you drive along any roadside, you'll see those four foot tall weeds everywhere. They're very resilient."While it may be the most common allergen in the area, ragweed isn't alone in bringing allergy sufferers to their knees."One of the big reasons allergies are bad around fall is the mold found 儲存n corn and soy," Dr. Julie Klemens of Peoria Ear, Nose and Throat said. "The mold is being released into the air during the harvest."This spells bad news for residents of rural farming communities, who will suffer a direct hit when it comes to allergens."The two biggest factors to your allergies are proximity to the allergen and the amount of the allergen," Klemens said. "So those who live in rural areas will definitely feel it more."That doesn't mean those who live downtown are spared. Allergenic spores can find their way even into the most urban of areas."I've talked to doctors in Chicago," Arnett said. "They see a spike in allergens during harvest even though there's no corn for 20 miles."Allergy sufferers only have to slog through a few more months of allergy anguish, though, until the sweet relief of a bitterly cold Illinois winter comes and wipes it all away."Freezing conditions where plants are killed off, you'll have a lot fewer problems," Arnett said. "The mold in the soil is frozen too, so outdoor allergens are less of an issue."That means citizens can seek comfort in their homes, or even frolic in the snow, and not feel the draining symptoms of allergies. That is until winter turns to spring and the brutal cycle starts again.Zach Berg can be reached at zberg@pjstar.com or 686-3257. Follow him on Twitter @ZacharyBerg.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 Journal Star (Peoria, Ill.) Visit the Journal Star (Peoria, Ill.) at .PJStar.com Distributed by MCT Information Servicesself storage