Newswire:

If You Live Here, Stock Up On Allegra

It’s beautiful outside. Flowers are blooming. The air’s fresh. And you…can’t smell it. Thanks to your allergies, you’re a hot mess: A runny nose, puffy eyes, and non-stop sneezing. And chances are, if you live in one of these cities, your sniffles are that much worse. Check out the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s list of the worst places to live with allergies. [ABC]

1. Lexington, KY: Lexington’s got the bad-allergy trifecta. It has an abundance of pollen, high incidence of allergy medication usage, both prescription and over-the-counter, and too few allergists in the area to treat those affected. Ouch.
2. Greensboro, NC: Greensboro has high pollen counts as well as high rates of medication utilization.
3. Johnson City, TN.: According to reports, Johnson City has a below-average rate of medicine utilization compared to the other cities on the list, although their pollen counts and number of allergists are average.
4. Augusta, GA: Higher-than-average pollen counts and incidence of medicine usage nudged the city into the top 10 of the AAFA’s list compared to last year.
5. Jackson, MS: Like much of Southeast, Jackson has heat and humidity, which lends itself to a high incidence of ragweed and other pollen-producing plants, as well promoting indoor allergens.
6. Knoxville, TN: Knoxville has an average pollen score as well as an average number of allergists in the area. However, the medication utilization score is very high, greater than the average usage, which, according to the AAFA, averages two types of medication per person. That’s got to get expensive.
7. Birmingham, AL: With more green spaces per capita than any other city in the country, it is no wonder that living with allergies in Birmingham can be a challenge. The city has high pollen counts, high incidence of medicine use and a low allergist-to-patient ratio.
8. New Orleans, LA: According to the AAFA, New Orleans has worse than average rates of medication utilization and a low allergist-to-patient ratio.
9. Little Rock, AK: The humid, subtropical climate of the area is characterized by short, mild winters and hot humid summers. A variety of flowering trees, grasses and wildflowers lend themselves to allergy season.
10. San Diego, CA: Shocked, right? Increased rain and fires in the past year may have contributed to the city’s rank as the 10th most challenging place to live with allergies.

Sneeze it up, San Diego.

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