It’s been a mild, dry winter this year in Tampa. While the warmer, and nearly rainless days have granted perfect morning running weather, there’s at least one drawback to the unseasonably warm temperatures…the early onset of allergies.

Dr. Sanka says:

Allergy season arrived sooner and is more severe than normal this year.

With January 2012 being named the 4th warmest January in history across the nation, the trees here in Tampa are mistaking the warm weather for spring. As a result, they are releasing their pollen earlier than normal. For the past 2 weeks, tree pollen counts have been in the “High” or “Medium-High” levels every day. I am seeing patients complaining of itchy eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat, and swollen sinuses. Some are fighting asthma that is triggered by their allergies. Others are experiencing flare ups of their eczema.

And a few are succumbing to sinusitis, bronchitis, or even pneumonia. Regardless of how it affects you, the pollen season is officially here in full swing and will be getting worse before it gets better.

So, if the allergy season comes in ahead of schedule, will it also be over more quickly? For some sufferers, allergy season never really ends. But this year the peak of the season will come a few weeks ahead of schedule, and it should end a little earlier too. Let’s just hope those blazing hot Summer temperatures turn up a little later this year. For more on this allergy season, watch the local FOX affiliates coverage of the story here.

If you are suffering from symptoms mentioned above (itchy eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat, and swollen sinuses) you may want to consider calling an allergy specialist to help you control those symptoms. If you live in the South Tampa, New Port Richey, Palm Harbor, or Pinellas Park area, relief is not far away! Contact one of our specialists at Advanced Allergy and Asthma Care for an appointment.

Advanced Allergy and Asthma Care website
Appointments : (727) 544-8100
We are currently accepting new patients.

Laurie Hathaway and son Andre | Mosley Motel families receive support from the community and Advanced Allergy and Asthma Care

Just after Thanksgiving, a story ran in the St. Petersburg Times telling the compelling story of Laurie Hathaway and her family. She, and her adorable son Andre, are sitting on the brink of homelessness. But rather than living on the street, Laurie has been earning enough to stay at a local hotel. This holiday season, Santa will have to find the Hathaway’s and other struggling families, at the Mosley Hotel they currently call their home.

In her original story, For families without options, that cheap motel may be their last resort, Times writer Leonora LaPeter Anton reported that “In August, 495 families – including 1,000 children, have been turned away from family shelters in Pinellas County.” Pinellas County has only 218 emergency shelter beds in 60 apartments – less than half what is needed.

We were touched by the story, and the struggles these families are facing, so we decided to do something to help out the community. We offered to buy gifts for each child living at the Mosley Motel for the holidays. We are so very happy to report that others have also contributed to the cause. There was so much support for the families that the Times followed up with this follow up report just a few days after the original story posted:

Motel deluged with offers to help families on brink of homelessness

The phone has been ringing incessantly at the Mosley Motel since Sunday, said motel manager Rena Mosley Burgess.

Ever since the plight of families living in motels ran in the St. Petersburg Times on Sunday, the motel has been overwhelmed with offers of support for families there.

A doctor’s office offered to provide a gift for each child and serve families food on Christmas. An anonymous donor asked the Mosley to choose a family once a week and he would pay for their stay. An older woman drove over from Tampa and said she wanted to bake the children cookies. She admitted that she was homeless once, too. A church group brought over jars of peanut butter, Hamburger Helper and canned beans and left them at the front desk. [ read full story ]

We are proud to have been a part of what we hope will be a very merry Christmas, and a hope filled future, for these families.

Donating Our Cancellation Fees to a Cause
Advanced Allergy and Asthma Care has been taking care of the communities in Pinellas, Tampa, and Pasco for over 12 years. Like many offices, we have a policy that if patients do not show up for their scheduled appointments or cancel without notice, there is a small cancellation fee. Often patients balk at having to pay this fee. The fee does not come close to recouping the loss or making up that time slot for a patient who may have needed it, but it enforces the need to be compliant with one’s healthcare. This is the time of year most offices celebrate the holidays with a catered lunch, holiday bonuses, and secret santa gifts.

This year, our office staff made the decision to forego the annual holiday party, and instead donate all the no-show fees to the homeless children living at the Mosely motel. We used this money and also collected donations of new/gently used toys from patients to purchase one gift for every child at the Mosely Motel. We estimate approximately $800 of gifts are being presented by a real “Santa” at their holiday party this friday.

We are very happy to give back to the community and contribute to this worthy cause, and we thank others whom have contributed as well.

Advanced Allergy and Asthma Care | Visit our Website

Can Mold Exposure Increase Kids Asthma Risks?

According to a recent study, a moldy house might be a trigger for future asthma troubles in children. The August issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology includes a study that sheds new light on the possible connection between mold and asthma. The article was recently featured on the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI). The study also suggests that there may be a connection between mold and asthma, particularly in children from poor, urban families

Early life exposure to mold seems to play a critical role in childhood asthma development,” says Tiina Reponen, PhD, lead study author and University of Cincinnati (UC) professor of environmental health. “Genetic factors are also important to consider in asthma risk, since infants whose parents have an allergy or asthma are at the greatest risk of developing asthma.
…
It is estimated that about 9 percent of school-age children in the United States will develop asthma; however, studies have shown that rates are often higher in children from poor, urban families. The disease cannot be accurately diagnosed until age 7 and the causes are not completely known.

Source: Mold Exposure during infancy Increases Asthma Risk

Mold levels in the study were determined using a DNA-based analysis tool developed by the EPA called the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) You can read the complete story from the ACAAI here: Mold Exposure during infancy Increases Asthma Risk for more about the potential connection between mold and asthma in children.

Are We Moldy in Tampa, Florida?
We may be known for wet weather here in Florida, but we are not the only state to suffer from the problems of mold. According to one survey, Florida ranks second behind only Texas, for the highest mold ratings in the country. However, states like Nevada, California, and South Dakota also rank in the top 10 states for mold. So, while we may be high up the ranks, we are certainly not alone.

Still, the State of Florida does officially recognize the problem, and they have information on the state website which offers up lots of information about mold in the state, including tips on spotting mold, information about how prevent mold breakouts, and lots links to even more info. Here’s a excerpt from the site on how to tell if mold is a problem in your home:

How can I tell if there is mold in my home, or should I test my home for mold?

Indoor mold growth can usually be seen or smelled. In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is not needed. There are no health or exposure-based standards that you can use to evaluate a mold sampling result. The Florida Department of Health does not recommend mold testing or sampling to see if you have a mold problem, or to see what kind of mold might be growing. Sampling for mold in the air can be expensive and, if done, should only be done by experienced professionals. Investigate a mold problem; don’t test.

• Look for visible mold growth (it may look cottony, velvety, rough, or leathery and have different colors like white, gray, brown, black, yellow, or green). Mold often appears as a staining or fuzzy growth on furniture or building materials (walls, ceilings, or anything made of wood or paper). Look for signs of moisture or water damage (water leaks, standing water, water stains, condensation, etc.).
• Check around air handling units (air conditioners, furnaces) for standing water. Routinely inspect the evaporator coils, liner surfaces, drain pans and drain lines.
• Search areas where you notice mold odors. If you can smell an earthy or musty odor, you may have a mold problem.
• If mold-allergic people have some of the symptoms listed above when in your home, you may have a mold problem.

Source: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/indoor-air/mold.htm

More mold resources:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
http://www.epa.gov/mold/index.html

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/mold/default.htm

If you have more questions about possible asthma symptoms in your child, please contact the Allergy Doc and schedule an appointment for asthma screening.

Also, with my experience in building a custom home, usng low or NO VOC paint is extremely important. Vaslpar Plus is the best NO VOC paint available currently.