Fall’s Here… Prepare for Allergies!

This, finally. Well, almost.
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Fall has sauntered into our lives sneakily, and with the weather changes comes another, not so pleasant thing for many: allergies. My body doesn’t seem to be bothered too much by pollen count and potential allergens, but many of my friends and acquaintances would say just the opposite. Changing seasons mean at least a few weeks of sneezy, sniffly doom.

With that in mind, I was intrigued when I saw that there’s actually a report from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) on the worst cities for those who suffer from allergies. And number one on the “2013 Fall Allergy Capitals” report was Wichita, KS.

The report says that global weather conditions could make this fall particularly ragweed-heavy, and that the potential fall storms and tornadoes could also “disperse allergens” and cause more outdoor mold problems. The list of the top 100 allergy capitals took into account pollen levels, OTC and prescription medication usage, and the number or Board Certified allergists for each city.

Wichita had a score or 100, boosting it to first place over last year’s second place. Last year, Louisville, KY, was number one. Check out other top cities on the report this year:

Unfortunately, fall is also a time of high allergies for some.
Image: Shutterstock

1. Wichita, KS—100.00
2. Jackson, MS—96.44
3. Knoxville, TN—94.32
4. Louisville, KY—89.12
5. Memphis, TN—88.72
6. McAllen, TX—88.37
7. Baton Rouge, LA—87.87
8. Dayton, OH—86.91
9. Chattanooga, TNN—85.76
10. Oklahoma City, OK—85.65
11. New Orleans, LA—84.54
12. Madison, WI—83.67
13. Omaha, NE—82.64
14. Little Rock, AR—80.02
15. Tulsa, OK—77.50
16. Buffalo, NY—77.10
17. Grand Rapids, MI—76.88
18. Dallas, TX—76.63
19. Detroit, MI—76.27
20. Toledo, OH—75.59

For a look at more of the top 100 cities, check out Allergy Capitals’ interactive map, which helpfully color-codes all of the cities’ regional locations (Midwest, Northeast, South, West), shows last year’s rank, and provides more information on its factor scores. The South and Midwest largely dominate the top of the list, with the West and Northeast bringing up the rear.

Where does your city "fall" on the list? :)