Dealing with unusually scary and repetitive dreams
Spring is typically a joyful time, with warmer weather, longer days, and blossoming flowers. But for those dealing with seasonal allergies, it's a time marked by itchy eyes, runny noses, and lots of sneezing! When it comes to springtime allergies, some regions in the US have it worse than others. In fact, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) looked at daily pollen counts, availability of allergy specialists, and over-the-counter medication use for populations in 100 US cities.
However, even outside the top cities, this spring is particularly difficult for the 80 million people who suffer from seasonal allergies. This is largely because allergy season came early and is expected to stay around longer. In fact, North American pollen seasons are 20 days longer today than they were in 1990.
With this in mind, if you suffer from seasonal allergies, beware of the following 10 cities!
The second-most populous city in Northwest Arkansas, Fayetteville came in at number 10 on the AAFA list.
In Arkansas, you'll want to keep an eye on pollen counts in April, May, and September. These months are when seasonal allergies are typically at their peak.
Fayetteville has average pollen counts and number of allergy specialists. However, the city has a worse-than-average amount of over-the-counter allergy medicine availability.
The capital city of North Carolina, you'll want to be careful if you're in Raleigh this spring and suffer with seasonal allergies.
The pollen season in Raleigh generally begins in late February or early March, with tree pollen being the primary allergen. The highest pollen counts usually occur in April, but the season extends until early June.
Talk with your doctor about treatment options. It's a good idea to start allergy treatments before pollen season begins.
The cornfields and hilly landscapes found in the capital, and most populous city in the state of Iowa, make for a bad recipe for allergies.
Located in the southern-central part of Iowa on the Des Moines River, residents in this city struggle with different pollen allergies during different parts of the year.
Allergy season typically starts at the end of February, with hickory, ash, willow, oak, and mulberry trees being the leading culprits of pollen. As summer rolls around, grass allergies tend to increase, with ragweed, lamb's quarters, and sagebrush causing allergies in the fall.
The capital of Virginia and one of America's oldest major cities, Richmond is a hot spot for pollen allergy.
You'll want to keep an eye on pollen counts in April, May, and June. These months are when seasonal allergies are typically at their peak.
However, the milder winters can make plants produce pollen sooner and extend their season.
Coming in at number six is Tulsa, Oklahoma. Its weather is characterized as having short winters and being typically dry and windy, which can extend allergy season and worsen symptoms.
As in many places, spring is typically the worst season, with trees being the most significant cause of allergies.
However, Oklahoma can experience allergies year round, with the summer bringing grass allergies and high pollen counts and fall with ragweed and tumbleweed allergies.
The fifth worst city for allergies, Oklahoma City is situated right in the middle of the state and is the largest city in Oklahoma.
With its relatively mild winters, trees begin to pollinate early and become active as early as February.
Trees, including oak and mulberry, tend to bloom in the spring, releasing lots of pollen and causing allergy issues for Oklahoma City residents.
The largest city in Texas ranks high due to its warm temperatures and windy conditions, which are perfect for spreading pollen over wide areas.
Dallas residents experience severe allergies due to the city's unique combination of high pollen counts, diverse plant species, and weather patterns that help pollen distribution.
Additionally, the city's air quality can play a role in exacerbating allergic reactions, making Dallas a challenging environment for allergy sufferers.
Cracking the top three is Greenville in South Carolina. A combination of the state's mild climate and a high concentration of pollen-producing flora lead to a bad allergy season.
Common allergens in Greenville include grasses such as Bermuda grass and sweet vernal grass, as well as trees like pine, ash, cedar, and willow.
The pollen released, especially during warm, breezy, and dry days, is a significant influence on symptoms, which is further exacerbated by the area's lack of allergy specialists.
Virginia Beach was named by the AAFA as the second-worst city to live in if you have seasonal allergies in 2024.
A popular oceanfront destination, Virginia Beach is a pollen hot spot due to its geographical location, mainly central Virginia's mountains and the resulting prevailing winds.
From late February to June, trees such as oak, pine, and cedar release an abundance of pollen into the air.
Wichita, Kansas, takes the top spot due to its cold, dry, and windy winters and hot, humid summers.
The city has an abundance of elm and maple trees, which are the main cause of the city's majority tree pollen.
Also, the flat, windy landscape creates an environment where pollen from other places can easily end up in Wichita.
Sources: (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America) (USA Today) (The Weather Channel) (Verywell Health)
See also: Sinus infection, cold, or allergies: how to tell the difference?
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HEALTH Allergy season
Spring is typically a joyful time, with warmer weather, longer days, and blossoming flowers. But for those dealing with seasonal allergies, it's a time marked by itchy eyes, runny noses, and lots of sneezing! When it comes to springtime allergies, some regions in the US have it worse than others. In fact, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) looked at daily pollen counts, availability of allergy specialists, and over-the-counter medication use for populations in 100 US cities.
However, even outside the top cities, this spring is particularly difficult for the 80 million people who suffer from seasonal allergies. This is largely because allergy season came early and is expected to stay around longer. In fact, North American pollen seasons are 20 days longer today than they were in 1990.
With this in mind, if you suffer from seasonal allergies, beware of the following 10 cities!