According to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies. Of this number, over 50 percent state that their allergies negatively impact their day-to-day lives. As part of the ‘atopic triad’ (a group of three conditions that commonly occur together), allergies frequently effect people who also suffer with asthma and eczema. In fact, more than two thirds of asthma sufferers in the U.S. also have environmental allergies.
What Are Allergies?
Allergies occur when a person’s immune system overreacts to a substance they have inhaled, touched, or ingested, such as food, medications, chemicals, or pollen. This overreaction leads to swelling, which can be extremely dangerous when it occurs in the airway. Sometimes the allergic response is mild, leading to minor skin irritation, a blocked or runny nose, itchy or irritated eyes, or wheeziness. Severe allergies can lead to anaphylaxis, an acute, systemic allergic response that is often life-threatening.
Common Environmental Allergens
Allergens are commonly categorized as either ‘indoor’ or ‘outdoor’, based on whether the sufferer is affected by something in their home or the wider environment. Outdoor allergens are a major problem for allergy sufferers across the USA, as they are often airborne, which means that limiting exposure can be difficult. Some of the most common outdoor allergens are:
- Pollen – from plants such as ragweed, mountain cedar, ryegrass, maple, oak, tumbleweed, elm, and pecan.
- Mold spores – found on rotting wood, falling leaves, compost, and other damp outdoor places.
People who suffer with asthma or allergies also experience aggravated respiratory symptoms in areas where air pollution is high.
The Worst Places to Live If You Have Allergies
A 2020 report by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) identified the following cities as the top worst places in the country for allergy sufferers to live:
1. Richmond, Virginia
- Higher than average spring and summer pollen counts
- Particularly bad for people with oak, maple, and birch pollen allergies
- Hot, humid weather leads to high mold count
2. Scranton, Pennsylvania
- High mold counts during the warmer weather
- Allergy sufferers frequently affected by tree pollens in the spring, including birch, elm, and oak
- Ragweed pollen count extremely high during the fall
3. Springfield, Massachusetts
- Higher than average spring and fall pollen counts
- Poor air quality worsens symptoms for allergy and asthma sufferers
- Wet weather frequently leads to high mold counts
4. Hartford, Connecticut
- Warm, windy, and humid weather makes the perfect conditions for mold spores to thrive and spread
- Ragweed pollen levels are higher than average in fall
- Tree pollen counts are higher than average in spring
5. McAllen, Texas
- Pollen from cedar trees is carried by wind from the Ri Grande Valley
- A wide variety of summer allergens, including huisache, mesquite and grass pollen
- Limited rainfall to clear residue allergens
Each city was scored on pollen and mold count for both spring and fall, over-the-counter allergy medication use, and the number of allergy specialists working in the area. Other environmental factors that may influence the spread of seasonal allergens were also taken into account.
Treatment Options
The best way to prevent allergy flare-ups is to avoid contact with allergens. When this is not possible, allergy symptoms can be managed with the help of medication. These treatments include:
- Antihistamines & corticosteroids – Drugs that block the body’s inflammatory response to allergens.
- Immunotherapy – A long-term treatment option that can help with chronic or severe allergy symptoms.
If you are living with asthma or allergies and would like help managing your symptoms, make an appointment to discuss your concerns with your general practitioner or an allergy specialist.