This is my 2nd year living in Florida. Both husband and I are bothered terribly by itchy, swollen, red eyes, congestion, and sneezing. The first year here we were both fine and now we are miserable. What has changed in Florida’s air? We have both over the counter and prescription allergy medicine. Nothing is touching this. — Sharon, Florida

Note from AllergyNurse: Is it possible the increase in hurricane activity in recent years has spawned some changes that are just now surfacing? If so, what might they be?

After the Katrina hurricane, the news media kept us informed of the moldy conditions with items such as this one:
Toxic Mold Spreads through Soggy South (Associated Press on MSNBC, September 27, 2005.) But a study reported earlier that same year indicated that:
People Often Mistake Ordinary Allergy for Toxic Mold Syndrome (WebMD, January 27, 2005).

Of course, Florida had its big onslaught of hurricanes the previous year, in 2004. NOAA reported that “An unprecented 4 hurricanes (Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne) affected Florida this year [2004],” and Florida has experienced hurricane activity in years since then also.

Is all this affecting Florida’s air? There was some commentary that this may indeed be so in a previous post. See:
Seminole County Florida - new allergies?

What do you all think?

Here is an excellent item from Jackson Health System, Miami, Florida. This offers allergy sufferers tips on how to prepare before the hurricane, as well as what to do after the hurricane. See:
Hurricane Tips: Allergies

Lois (AllergyNurse)