15 Worst Cities for Spring Allergies
05/13/2013
Writer: Ryan Allen Do you suffer from the common symptoms of springtime allergies: coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, and scratchy throat? If so, your community might be located in one of the worst cities for spring allergies — without you even knowing it. Each year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) releases a list of the top 100 worst cities for people with spring allergies. The list is based on a pollen score and the number of local allergy specialists in the area and allergy medications used per patient. Allergies are diseases of the immune system that cause an overreaction to foreign protein substances called allergens. Outdoor allergies (also called Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis [SAR], hay fever, or nasal allergies) occur when allergens that are commonly found outdoors are inhaled into the nose and the lungs to cause allergic reactions. Examples of commonly inhaled outdoor allergens are tree, grass, and weed pollen, and mold spores. That said, it’s not surprising that southeastern cities usually dominate the top of the list because oak, maple, and elm trees are the primary pollen producers in this region during the spring. Here are the cities at the top of AAFA’s Spring Allergy Capitals list for 2013: - Jackson, Miss.
- Knoxville, Tenn.
- Chattanooga, Tenn.
- McAllen, Texas
- Louisville, Ky.
- Wichita, Kansas
- Dayton, Ohio
- Memphis, Tenn.
- Oklahoma City, Okla.
- Baton Rouge, La.
- Little Rock, Ark.
- Madison, Wis.
- New Orleans, La.
- Birmingham, Ala.
- Buffalo, N.Y.
- Drive with your car windows closed.
- When at home, keep windows and outside doors shut. If you have air conditioning, use it. Both central and room air conditioning units have filters that effectively reduce your exposure.
- After you’ve been outdoors, wash your hands to reduce the amount of pollen you transfer from your hands to your eyes or nose.
- Keep pets that spend time outdoors out of the bedroom.
- Stay inside during the peak pollen hours of 5 to 10 a.m.
- Exercise indoors or enjoy outdoor activities after a sustained rain, when pollen counts are low.
- Some allergy medications may work best if taken throughout the pollen season and before allergen exposure rather than intermittently. Consult your physician to learn what might work best for you.