Allergy alert! Mold pollen tests in very high range

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Allergy sufferers beware! The Oklahoma Allergy and Asthma Clinic (OAAC) is issuing an allergy alert after mold pollen tested in the very high range Friday.

Officials with the OAAC say this is an extreme exposure situation and those with mold pollen sensitivity or allergic bronchial asthma may experience severe symptoms.

Authorities advise the more seriously allergic individuals to stay indoors as much as possible, saying the best way to combat these allergens is to stay in filtered air.

OAAC’s board-certified allergists recommend avoiding allergy triggers is the best way to reduce symptoms.

These triggers include:

  • Wash your hands often. Pollen can stick to your hands when you touch something outside or a pet, if it has been outside.
  • Limit your time outdoors when pollen counts are high.
  • Wear a dust mask that people like carpenters use (found in hardware stores) when you need to do outdoor tasks such as raking leaves.
  • Don’t wear your outdoor work clothes in the house; they may have pollen on them.
  • Clean and replace furnace and air conditioner filters often. Using HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters is recommended, which remove at least 99 percent of pollen, as well as animal dander, dust and other particles.
  • Use a clothes dryer rather than outdoor clothes lines.

“Some other options include medications like nasal sprays and antihistamines but it needs to be the correct medicine and should be used continuously throughout the season,” said OAAC officials.

 

Article Source: Allergy alert! Mold pollen tests in very high range (kfor.com)