Do you feel sneezy? Don’t be upset if you won’t hear ‘Bless you” response when you sneeze more often this days, as you might blame it to allergies as the culprit. According to AllergyCapitals.com report there is no place safe from allergies in United States cities especially this year’s spring-time, and some cities are more troublesome than others.

Record of warm temperatures and severe winter storms in some regions can cause an explosion of allergies. It’s also happening that allergies are getting worse each year.

The annual research project of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) to identify the 100 most challenging places to live with allergies during the spring season. This year’s 15 of the top 25 cities on this year’s ranking are in the South, continuing a trend that AAFA has seen over the years. “Our spring listing usually features cities from the southeast and deep south, and the #1 spot is almost always a southern city,” says Mike Tringale, AAFA’s Vice President of External Affairs.

Asked if how long will the allergy last? New York-based allergist Dr. Cliff Bassett said, “Right now we’re forecasting a robust tree and grass season which will carry all the way into early to mid-summer.” Some local pollinating trees that can cause allergies might be in your backyard like Red Cedar, Hackberry, Elm, Willow, Poplar, Mountain Cedar, Juniper, Elm, Ash, Oak, Hazelnut, Alder and Aspen.

This year, Jackson, Mississippi in the No.1 on the list (up from #4 last year) primarily due to very high pollen and a large reliance on allergy medications among allergy patients. On this year’s list, the city with the worst pollen score is Wichita, Kansas. Pollen scores are based on airborne, grass, tree, weed pollen and mold spores. The city showing the greatest use of allergy medications is Jackson, MS and the city with the lowest number of allergy specialists-per-patient is Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Check this year’s top 25 Worst Spring Allergy Cities below (The ranking are based Pollen Score and tracking Allergy medicine utilization per patient)

1. Jackson, MS

2. Knoxville, TN

3. Chattanooga, TN

4. McAllen, TX

5. Louisville, KY

6. Wichita, KS

7. Dayton, OH

8. Memphis, TN

9. Oklahoma City, OK

10. Baton Rouge, LA

11. Little Rock, AR

12. Madison, WI

13. New Orleans, LA

14. Birmingham, AL

15. Buffalo, NY

16. Providence, RI

17. Grand Rapids, MI

18. Springfield, MA

19. Greenville, SC

20. Virginia Beach, VA

21. Tulsa, OK

22. Richmond, VA

23. Dallas, TX

24. San Antonio, TX

25. Philadelphia, PA

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allvoices.com
April 11, 2013