While every city is home to at least some flowers, weeds, grasses, and flowering trees that may give you watery eyes, a scratchy throat, and tickled nose, some cities are worse than others for springtime allergies. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) ranks US cities every year, here are the worst six.
6. Wichita, Kansas: tornados may come to mind first, but Kansas is also home to wide open, and wind-swept prairies. Pollen is quickly swept across these grasslands and into cities and towns all around Wichita.
5. Louisville, Kentucky: bluegrass and flowering trees are some of what make this city beautiful, but they’re also what make this city sneeze and cough.
4. McAllen, Texas: while the Southwest may not be the first place that comes to mind as an allergy hotspot, this city on the southern tip of Texas gets a lot of humidity and warmth, bringing with it seasonal sniffles.
3. Chattanooga, Tennessee: overlooked by Lookout Mountain, this valley city gets swept through with pollen that sticks throughout the spring and summer.
2. Knoxville, Tennessee: another Tennessee city in the top three, Knoxville, while lush and green, may be an allergy-sufferer’s nightmare.
1. Jackson, Mississippi: with deep forests, vast prairies, and rivers, there are a myriad of sources for seasonal allergies in Jackson.
Whether you’re living in a hot spot or not, seasonal allergies can bring even the most diligent housecleaner down. While it’s tempting to let the spring breeze play through your home, shut windows tight when pollen counts are high to reduce allergies. Click here for more tips on how to reduce allergens’ hold on your everyday life.
