With temperatures warming, allergy season is underway in Kansas and experts are offering tips on how to cope.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranks Wichita as the allergy capital of the nation for the third year in a row, based on pollen scores for trees, grass and weeds, above-average use of over-the-counter allergy medications and a limited availability of allergy specialists.

Dr. Selina Gierer, allergy-immunology physician for the University of Kansas Health System, said while avoiding exposure is difficult, there are some steps you can take.

"We recommend keeping your windows closed. We recommend changing your furnace filters that brings that outside air in, pretty regularly, maybe more commonly, during those peak pollen seasons," Gierer outlined. "If you've been outside, come in take a shower, get all that stuff off of you, because pollen is heavy and it falls."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates pollen-related medical expenses cost more than $3 billion a year, with about half spent on prescription medications.

Experts contend climate change is intensifying allergy seasons and causing higher pollen counts. Research shows pollen season is starting earlier and lasting longer compared to 30 years ago. Typically, tree pollen is dominant in the spring, with grass pollen peaking in summer, and weed pollen a factor into the fall.

Gierer noted there are variations from year to year.

"If we have a very late winter, with cold air through March, April and even into May, our tree pollen season can be slightly delayed," Gierer pointed out. "It is very unpredictable. But then, whenever the trees start blooming, grasses soon follow, and sometimes we do get some overlap."

More than 60 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies. Treatments range from nasal irrigation with saline to rinse irritants out of nasal passages to antihistamines in nasal spray or pill form. Immunotherapy, which can change the body's immune response to allergens, includes allergy shots. In recent years, the Food and Drug Administration has approved sublingual tablets to treat reactions to grass pollen, ragweed and dust mites.

Dr. Gregory Carnevale, chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare, said to check with your doctor to keep up with the latest treatments.

"One of the values of seeing a health care professional is some of these newer medications can oftentimes have less side effects," Carnevale noted.

You can keep track of the pollen count in your area at pollen.com.

A new report from the Commonwealth Fund showed between 8,000 and 12,000 Kentuckians could lose their jobs as a result of the state implementing Medicaid work requirements, which would cause more people to lose health coverage.

Leighton Ku, professor of health policy and management at George Washington University and co-author of the report, said around half of job losses would occur in health care and the other half downstream, in other industries connected to hospitals and doctor's offices. He added many rural health care providers rely heavily on patients with Medicaid to operate, noting without the funds, they will have to make tough choices.

"Health care providers, they have to compensate for that by doing things like laying off staff and by buying less from people who they purchase things from," Ku pointed out. "Whether it's medical equipment or whether that's how they pay the rent for their space."

Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., heads the committee spearheading the effort to slash $880 billion in federal funding for Medicaid over the next decade. In a recent op-ed, Guthrie argued, "Washington can't afford to undermine the program further by subsidizing capable adults who choose not to work."

The Commonwealth ranks sixth-highest among states in its share of its population covered by Medicaid, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. Of the 435 congressional districts across the nation, four of Kentucky's rank within the top 100 for the largest share covered by Medicaid.

Ku stressed Kentucky should brace for a billion dollars in economic losses, if health care workers are laid off.

"Relatively speaking, the state of Kentucky gets hurt more than almost any other state in the country," Ku added.

This week, the American Association of American Medical Colleges expressed concern the cuts would limit coverage and access to care for many of the 70 million Americans, including those of its member hospitals, who account for 29% of all Medicaid inpatient days.


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A new study from Michigan State University researchers revealed lasting PFAS effects in a Michigan community's drinking water near an old paper mill landfill.

PFAS are "forever chemicals" which enter the body and do not break down easily, often found in products like nonstick pans and waterproof gear.

The study focused on a southwest Michigan city where PFAS contamination in drinking water was first identified in 2018. It is the first study to examine PFAS in both tap water and blood in a community exposed to the chemicals.

Courtney Carignan, assistant professor of food science and human nutrition at Michigan State University and the study's lead author, shared key findings from the study.

"The levels that we see in blood, being elevated and for some people were above what the national academies have recommended in terms of where you would start to need additional medical screening for certain PFAS related health effects," Carignan explained. "It's good that this community got that intervention."

The study found PFAS compounds lingered in the body, even three years after switching to clean water. The findings give a starting point for understanding PFAS risks and how well intervention strategies work.

Study participants who drank contaminated water were divided into two groups: those with high exposure from city water and those with lower exposure from private wells. Blood PFAS levels rose with each year of exposure for both groups. Women in the low-exposure group had lower levels than men, likely due to biological factors. Carignan noted a separate study identified key sources of PFAS contamination.

"We found that closer proximity to airports, military fire training cites, wastewater treatment plants, were more likely to have PFAS contamination in those public water systems," Carignan pointed out.

Research shows PFAS compounds are found in the blood of most Americans. Those with the highest levels were people exposed at work or via contaminated drinking water.


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At least two people have tested positive for measles in Illinois and public health officials are working to combat misinformation surrounding vaccines in an effort to curb the spread.

Health officials said the measles virus is highly infectious and especially concerning for babies and young children, as well as people who are pregnant or have compromised immune systems. It can cause pneumonia, brain damage and even be fatal in some cases.

Dr. Kiran Joshi, interim chief operating officer at the Cook County Department of Public Health, said it is also preventable through vaccination, with two doses of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine providing nearly 100% lifelong protection.

"Ninety-seven percent of people who got measles this year happened to be unvaccinated," Joshi pointed out. "Vaccination is incredibly protective."

Joshi added over the past 50 years, the measles vaccine has saved more than 150 million lives across the world. He noted the department has launched a campaign to counter some of the misinformation that is circulating.

Public health officials are focusing campaign efforts on unvaccinated people. Joshi explained it includes having multiple conversations with hesitant patients and providing evidence-backed information. He stressed misinformation about preventive measures like taking vitamin A is concerning and not scientifically proven.

"There are a lot of myths out there, such as 'vaccines can cause autism,'" Joshi pointed out. "I want to state categorically that is incorrect, that there's no credible evidence to support that, yet these myths continue to perpetuate."

Joshi added the myths have potentially contributed to more than 900 measles cases reported across the country.

"When you look at the research, when you look at the evidence, all of that has been subjected to pretty rigorous standards," Joshi outlined. "We also go to the nature of science, that you have to be able to repeat studies. You have to look at the research as a whole, instead of sort of cherry-picking."

He advised anyone with questions to speak with their primary care provider about their vaccine records and ensure they are getting any health information from reputable sources.