Some places in the US are more challenging for people with allergies to live in than others. Of course, even if you move, new allergies can develop in a new location as you become sensitized to the local allergens.
Still, it might be helpful to understand where allergies tend to be most severe. The following ranking of the "Spring Allergy Capitals of 2007" was done by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. It is based on the following 3 factors:
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Pollen scores (airborne grass/tree/weed pollen and mold spores)
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Number of allergy medications used per patient
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Number of allergy specialists per patient
Top 10 Most Challenging Allergy Cities
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
- Fort Myers, Florida
- San Antonio, Texas
- Tucson, Arizona
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Wichita, Kansas
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Atlanta, Georgia
Surprisingly, the ultimate metro area, New York City was only ranked 79th on the list and Boston was 99. I live in Boise, in the mountain West, and I was surprised to find it in position number 86 on the list.
To find out where your area ranks, visit the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. However, the important thing to remember is that no place is safe from allergies. So, learning to manage your allergies within your current environment is more effective than moving somewhere new.
So, practice diligent trigger avoidance and take your allergy medicine exactly as your doctor has prescribed and you should be able to keep your asthma symptoms in check most of the time.
