Springtime brings more stuffy or runny noses, sneezing and scratchy throats for the millions of seasonal allergy sufferers in the U.S. It’s early in the spring, but the airborne allergens in much of the U.S. are already causing intense allergy symptoms and making life for those with allergies miserable. There’s evidence this allergy season will be especially bad, and there’s no sign of allergy symptoms alleviating any time soon.
Because of climate change and rising carbon dioxide emissions, plants are experiencing an earlier and longer growing season, which means more pollen earlier in the year. Pollen seasons are also getting more intense throughout the country as the growth of trees and grasses boosts. This is also true for mold.
Some places have it especially bad. If you live in the U.S. Midwest, this is especially true for you.
A report by the nonprofit Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America revealed last year’s “allergy capitals,” or most challenging places to live for those with pollen allergies. The rankings were based on pollen counts and took into account use of over the counter allergy medicine and number of allergy physicians in the particular areas.
The top five most challenging places to live as someone with allergies were:
- Wichita, KS
- Dallas, TX
- Scranton, PA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Tulsa, OK
It can also be especially bad for those with underlying respiratory issues. For those with asthma or COPD, allergies can exacerbate issues and increase chances of an asthma attack. Over the counter medicines offer some relief, but can cause negative side effects like drowsiness, dizziness and nausea.
Austin Air air purifiers were developed specifically for those with asthma and allergies. Their unique design increases air flow, filtering allergens from the air immediately. The combination of medical-grade HEPA and activated carbon in this unit is proven to remove up to 99% of all airborne contaminants as small as 0.1 microns, including viruses, bacteria, dust, dander and allergens.
