Warm Weather Could Prompt Early Colorado Allergy, Asthma Suffering

    ENGLEWOOD, CO, March 26, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Allergy and asthma suffers don't typically start stressing until spring when more flowers are in bloom and bees and butterflies are productively pollinating. However, Dr. Michael Menachof, a Denver, Colorado allergy specialist at Advanced Ear, Nose and Throat (www.advancedentdenver.com), cautions that warm winter weather could cause people to suffer symptoms sooner.

"When temperatures fluctuate in the winter and tend to be on the warmer side it can cause plants to start producing pollen earlier," explains Dr. Menachof. "And then that could mean an early start to allergy season."

Warmer winters mixed with sporadic rain can lead to more mold and sudden increases in temperatures can also trigger someone to have an asthma attack. If milder temperature trends continue into spring, there is also the potential for increased pollen counts come allergy season. As a general rule, the higher the pollen counts the worse the allergy season will be.

"People come to our allergy and asthma center in Colorado because they want relief," says Dr. Menachof. "Some of our patients have suffered with their symptoms for years, but when the allergy season is worse than they've experienced in the past, it becomes too much for them to handle. Their old remedies are not working anymore and they need to know their options."

Colorado allergy and asthma suffers might be able to suppress their symptoms temporarily with over-the-counter medicine, but if that's not effective it might be time for testing or prescription medication. Currently there are two primary types of testing for allergies: skin tests and blood tests.

Dr. Menachof suggests that people with the potential to suffer more from allergies if the warm winter weather continues this year should consider being tested. "It's likely that pollen counts will be significantly increased this year if warmer weather continues," says Dr. Menachof. "Why prepare to suffer if you haven't considered all of your options - medical professionals can offer more advanced treatments than ever before to control allergy symptoms."

Michael R. Menachof, MD (www.advancedentdenver.com) received his Medical Doctorate degree from the University of California at San Francisco, consistently ranked as one of the top five medical schools in the country. He graduated in the top 5% of his class and was awarded placement in the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. Dr. Menachof remained at the University of California Hospitals to pursue his training in Head and Neck Surgery and Facial Plastic Surgery. He has served the Denver metro area from his practice, The Center for Aesthetic Facial Surgery, since 1992. He is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology.

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