The Best U.S. Cities for Allergy Sufferers
Runny nose? Watery eyes? That feeling like you’re suffering from a cold even though the weather is beautiful? Allergies are terrible, and where you live might be making things worse.
Every year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) releases a report of the best and worst cities for allergy sufferers in the United States. If you suffer from severe allergies, you might want to look to one of these cities for where to move next. Getting an apartment in one of these cities could change your life.
The Best U.S. Cities for Allergy Sufferers
These are the best U.S. cities to live in in 2018 if you have allergies:
- Denver, CO
- Provo, UT
- Boise, ID
- Portland, OR
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Ogden, UT
- Seattle, WA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Raleigh, NC
- Spokane, WA
What Makes a City Allergy-Friendly?
The report from AAFA takes three things into consideration for each city: pollen count, amount of allergy medication prescribed, and the number of allergists in the area. The top ten all have pretty low pollen counts, but the other factors can be important. For more in-depth information, check the report itself.
Outside of just counting pollen, the best places seem to be some combination of near the coast and having long cold seasons, meaning there’s less time for pollen growth.
If you want to know how your city stacks up, check the full report, which ranks the top 100 metropolitan areas in the United States.
What do I do with this information?
Well, it’s up to you what to do. Most people probably don’t have bad enough allergies to make them move, but this can be a factor next time the opportunity comes up.
Until then, having an idea of how bad your city is can help you to take care of yourself right now. Keep track of current pollen levels on websites like Pollen.com, and take precautions to keep your exposure to pollen relatively low. Keeping the windows closed and avoiding outdoors activities is a great first step. Don’t forget to check with your doctor and get their recommendation for medication and treatments.
How are your allergies this year? Do you think your city gets a bad rap for allergies, or do you have tips and advice as to how you handle your sniffles? Get social with Apartment Guide and let us know!
