Are you living in the allergy capital of the US?  Every year, the AAFA (Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America) publishes the results of a nationwide study to determine which areas have the greatest allergy and asthma risks.  These are areas where flowering plants have longer pollinating seasons; traffic and factory smog are produced in larger quantities; or moist air beckons the growth of mold.

The most recent lists has crowned Austin, Texas as the most challenging city to live in for people with allergies, while Atlanta, Georgia took the prize for most challenging city to live in for those who suffer from asthma.

Though no city in the US is completely free of allergens, there are certain areas where allergy and asthma related symptoms are minimal.  The AAFA take into consideration three different elements that would help rank cities for allergy health:

• Pollen/Spore levels
• Patient medication usage
• Number of Board Certified Allergists per patient in the area

Austin had an unusually large amount of pollen produced this fall, a well as a high usage of allergy medications used by patients and a small number of practicing allergists.  These combined factors make Austin rather inhospitable to allergy sufferers.  The other top cities were: 

2. San Antonio, TX
3. Oklahoma City, OK
4. Lakeland, FL
5. Orlando, FL

Asthma Prevalence: morbidity and mortality statistics

•  Asthma Prevalence: mordibity and mortality statistics 
• Risk factors: pollen levels, smoking laws, overall air quality, poverty, etc.
• Medication: the prevalence of use and the number of specialists in the area.

Based on these three factors, Atlanta, Georgia was named  the Asthma capital.  The other tops cities were:

2. Philadelphia, PA
3. Raleigh, NC
4. Knoxville, TN
5. Harrisburg, PA

What can you do if your city is worsening your symptoms?

1. It is nearly impossible to "move away" from your allergies to a less allergy-prone area.  Often times people will leave behind one sort of allergy, but quickly develop a new one to something that is in their new environment.  Simply avoiding the symptoms may not help the disease.
2. See an allergist or asthma specialist in your area.  Developing a treatment plan will help you to manage your allergies or asthma no matter where you live.
3. Use an air purifier in your home and workplace.  Try the IQAir HealthPro and HealthPro Plus in your bedroom.  You may not be able to control the air quality outdoors, but you can make your home into a more allergy and asthma friendly environment.

For the complete lists of US cities and how they ranked, click here for Asthma and here for Allergies.

For asthmatics, the criteria set for determining the top problem cities is slightly different.  The aspects that are studied are: