Low Allergy Cities
By Staff
Each year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) conducts Allergy Capitals, a research project to determine the 100 most challenging places to live in for those who have allergies in the spring and fall season. The results are based on 3 factors for 100 cities: (1) pollen scores of airborne grass, tree, and weed pollen, as well as mold spores; (2) number of allergy medications used per patient; and (3) number of allergy specialists per patient. The data is recorded, measured, and compared versus the results from the previous year, and the cities are ranked accordingly.
In AAFA’s 2006 Spring Allergy Capitals, Hartford, Connecticut, is ranked number one most challenging place to live in, followed by Greenville, SC, Boston, MA, Detroit, MI, Orlando, FL, Knoxville, TN, Omaha, NE, Sacramento, CA, Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD.
As for the 2006 fall season, AAFA announced Greenville, South Carolina as the number one most challenging place to live in, followed by Tampa, FL, Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX, Tulsa, OK, Oklahoma City, OK, San Antonio, TX, Louisville, KY, Orlando, FL, Omaha, NE, and Grand Rapids, MI.
With this knowledge, allergy sufferers who live in an Allergy Capital should preempt their allergic symptoms as soon as the allergy season kicks in.
The rankings change every year depending on the results from the data gathered. Pollen counts can increase and decrease in different cities depending on where the wind blows, or how humid the weather can be. Some cities will be more problematic than others during one season, and may not be as problematic in the next season.
In AAFA’s 2006 Fall Allergy Capitals, there are around 17 cities that scored better than average, or in other words, these cities have the lowest pollen counts, patient allergy medications, and average allergy specialists per patient. These 17 cities can be called the best places to live in for allergy sufferers in the current year’s fall season. Canton, Ohio tops the list followed by Spokane, WA, Portland, OR, Springfield, MO, Scranton, PA, Modesto, CA, Seattle, WA, Pensacola, FL, Colorado Springs, CO, Fresno, CA, Daytona Beach, FL, South Bend, IN, Melbourne, FL, Fort Myers, FL, Des Moines, IA, Youngstown, OH, and Toledo, OH.
However, this does not mean that these 17 cities will remain to be allergy free, because the results might be different in the Allergy Capitals study in the following year. For one, Daytona Beach, Florida, which is now among the top best cities, was ranked as the 4th most challenging place to live in the 2005 Allergy Capitals study. South Bend, Indiana was ranked as the 5th worst place to live in, as well as Melbourne, Florida, which used to be ranked as the 10th worst place, also in 2005.
In general, a certain place is not ideal for someone with seasonal allergies if the weather in the area tends to get warm, humid, and dry come spring or fall. Pollens can easily be transported by the wind from miles away, thus increasing the pollen count in that area, and because of the hot weather, mold spores can also be widespread.
If you are an allergy sufferer, and you live or travel to one of the Allergy Capitals, there is still a way to alleviate your allergy symptoms. See your doctor regularly about your condition so that both of you can work out the best treatment for your allergies.
We recently moved to Springfield, Missouri from Georgia and my son has been having the absolute worse problem with allergies ever!
Missouri is always really bad. I live in St. Louis and have been feeling awful this year, ever since June-ish.
Agreed. I’ve lived in Missouri my whole life and I’ve always had issues with allergies. Every April and every October I get a sinus infection and cough for the entire month. We must have some nasty allergens here. Good luck with your son!
I live in Austin,TX and my allergies are the worst they have have been.
i live for 7 years in Orlando,Fl.and the allergies are bad.I need to move, if someone knows about a nice place with less allergies let me know.
I live in Hampton Roads, Virginia and I have a terrible time with allergies in the Oct-Nov and May-June time. It appears to be leaf mold related. I’m thinking maybe Yuma AZ is the place for me.
Missouri has got to be one of the worst places to be when you have allergies. I have them really bad. Every Fall and Spring is horrible for me.
I live in San Antonio Tx and have been suffering from sinus infections quite frequently this year. It’s only March, I’m just afraid what the rest of the year is going to bring.
@Tom:
We recently moved to Mathews County, Virginia (about half-way between VA Beach and Richmond) and have to leave again because my husband and son are suffering so much.
We’re in Savannah, GA. This is the worst I have been with allergies and asthma since childhood. Is there anyplace to live with low pollen counts that isn’t terribly cold?
I have lived in Omaha NE for the last 10 years. This is where my allergies developed. Two Allergiests informed me (after I moved here) that a great number of people develop allergies after moving here. They need to put that in the brochure! Every spring and fall I suffer terribly. I like visiting North and South Dakota and Colorado. I obtain moderate to extreme relief in those states.
I moved to Sacramento, CA…the city of trees. When I wake up in the morning and blow my nose…i can see trace of dry blood.
I LIVE IN UPPER MARLBORO MD AND THIS YEAR IS MY WORSE YEAR SINCE 6 YEARS AGO, I’M SUFFERING EVERY DAY AND ALL DAY LONG SO CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT STATES IS GOOD TO LIVE IN PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CAN’T BREATH WITHOUT ISSUES.
We’re native Californians but moved to NC with my husband’s job 3 years ago. I’ve been told that I’m allergic to all grasses, several trees, dust, mold, etc. My allergies felt better in NC, buy I still experieced some symptoms. But now that we’ve been back in CA (Central Valley) for 3 years, my allergies have been much worse, and each year they develop new symptoms, such as shortness of breath, and tightness and pain/aches in my chest, in addition to sinus problems and earaches. Does anyone live in an area where not many people suffer with allergies? My husband suggested the desert!!!
We lived in Amarillo, Tx for the past 24 years and I had no allergies. In 2006 we retired here in Southeastern Ky and this year (2011), I got sick in Feb. and still having problems at the end of May. Don’t move here. I’m also looking for a better place to live. Arizona?
Living in Austin TX this year has been challenging for people with allergies. It may be the worst year I have experienced. I want to know what locations people have visited to get relief from allergies.
I moved to Lakeland Florida about 25 years ago. My allergies were bad up North, but I didn’t have allergy issue here until I got dogs who bring stuff in the house.
There are alternative therapies. We went to a chiropractic allergy specialist in Rocklin Riffey Chiropractic. They test your allergies there by “stregth” instead of needles and blood. Then they use a combo of chiro and pressure points to adjust your body. IT WORKED! Some insurances help cover cost. My husband had bronchitis about 3-4 times a year for two years straight. He tried allergy shots and meds, got fed up. We found the Riffey’s and he hasn’t had those problems since. An occasional adjustment is needed but nothing like the first time. I highly reccomend!
That would be Rocklin Cailfornia BTW. We live in the central valley of CA, near Stockton.
As soon as you walk out, turn on exhaust fan, Your in contact with mold spores. I’m near austin and sufforing. I grew up in Orlando with no problems.
So why now. I say Cooling Tower they spew microbials for miles, That may explain why one Year is high and the next low. May be when they clean and stir it up. Once a co-worker I experienced the same symtoms after cleaning A 1-2 year old cooling-tower.
OMG thought ize gonna die. was told by a water treatment guy it could of been a form of Legionairs. Just a theory, of course damming the river, pools, a/c condensate could add to it. Bob’s 2cents
Cities plant their own allergies, and often homeowners do the same thing. They plant highly allergenic male trees and shrubs next to houses & allergies are the result.
Long ago Arizona was the place to go to get away from pollen, but no longer. They planted all the same kind of high pollen landscape plants there and now AZ cities are as bad, or worse, than the rest.
Demand that your own city stop planting male trees & shrubs and that they start planting allergy-free, pollen-free trees! Some places are starting to do this now. It is our only chance for life without constant allergies. Research allergy-free gardening for tips.
Pollen & high humidity keeps me house bound at least from March thru August.
I’m ready to make a change & move out of Arkansas, maybe to a high elevation?
I have cats but they pose no problems.
They’re my family & it nees to be safe. Anyone have any ideas. I’m approaching Senior Citizenhood. Thanks!
Although most web sites say don’t move if you have bad allergies, I disagree. I found that the best way to deal with them was to move! I had allergies 9 months out of every year in Austin, TX, I had NO allergies in Salt Lake City for 7 years straight. So, yes, if you can, move to a less allergen-producing, lower pollen count place. There are various lists, usually for fall ro spring, but haven’t found one for year round. My worst allergy is in winter (cedar or a type of juniper–so prevalent in Austin, it goes by the name, “cedar fever”and sufferers are legion). Generally, drier climates with aridity (fewer plants) seem better. Or really cold climates with short growing seasons. All I can say is, it was like having a new set of lungs to live in Salt Lake. So what am I doing back in Texas?! (Not planning to stay, is what!)
Bob in Austin, yes, Legionaires is related to warm/damp environments. There was something on NPR just recently about how a water fountain in a hospital was causing problems like this. But mold spores (the invisible sort we have here in Austin that reside in the air and rise from the damp earth) are a normal aspect of humid air and not of themselves harmful, except to those of us allergic to them! I don’t know about you, but I plan to move – permanently this time.