Spring is ongoing in the Northern Hemisphere. Allergy season is also underway. It means warm temporary and blooming flowers and trees, but it also means that unpleasant sneezing and coughing from common seasonal allergens are arriving with their buds. While some U.S. cities and regions appear to be infamous to allergic patients, although they are susceptible to various pollen and ragweed locations where plant growth is present.
“A lot of people suffer from allergies, so everyone thinks their territory is the worst.” Dr. Robert Semblthe director of Allergy at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Pennsylvania. Popular science. . ”
Which city is the worst for allergies?
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation released it Annual Allergy Capital List In March. Reports are used Data from the 100 most populous metropolitan areas Tree, grass, weed pollen scores, annual grass, weed scores, over-the-counter allergy medication use, and availability of board certified allergy/immunologists.
Here are the top 10 this year:
| Wichita, Kansas |
| New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Memphis, Tennessee |
| Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Richmond, Virginia |
| Greenville, South Carolina |
| Greensboro, North Carolina |
“Allergy season is full-scale. If your symptoms are feeling worse than normal, you don’t imagine! Allergic symptoms started before and are affecting more people than ever.” Pharmacist Stacia Woodcock say Popular science. “New data GoodRX shows that allergy medication prescriptions are at the best point of this time of year in six years. In fact, nearly 75 fillings of the most popular allergy medications have skyrocketed and are still climbing. ”
Why are some places worse than others?
There are several factors behind what makes the area particularly vulnerable to certain allergens. One is the amount of frost-free days that we have so few, mainly due to climate change.
“If there are fewer frost days, more days will be increased due to plant growth and pollen production,” says Zemble. “The best cities tend to gather around the southeast, mid-Atlantic and mid-West. So it’s the distribution of plants’ growth and the time they have to grow.”
The amount of air pollution in a region can also affect things related to the airways. Living next to a highway or more urban environment can mean less irritating from pollen and plant growth, but contamination from cars can also cause problems. Urban Heat Island Effects – the city’s paved surfaces trap heat and increase temperatures – can also affect breathing.
“It may seem like an intuitive counter– sometimes you need to plant more trees to reduce tree allergies,” says Zemble. “But sometimes it does.”
For those living in more suburban and rural areas, the geographical features around them play a role. Zemble treats patients in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Located in the Appalachian Mountains, it also includes the state’s third largest metropolitan area.
“Essentially, one of the explanations we often give is that we are in this valley,” says Zemble. “The pollen sits here and it collects and affects us for a long period of time rather than going through and going ahead.”
[ Related: It’s stuffy nose season. Here’s how to cope. ]
How to Choose the Right Allergy Medicine
First and foremost, always talk to a healthcare professional or pharmacist before starting your medication. The best treatment depends on personal factors such as symptoms, how often they occur, how serious they are, and age.
Allergy treatments fall into three main categories: antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, and intestinal defecation. They each work differently, and while many are available in stores, some may require a prescription.
For those with allergic symptoms that sometimes appear after pollen season or around pets, Woodcock recommends oral antihistamines Lorata Gin (Claritin).
“These medications are effective in sneezing, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, and usually start working within a few hours,” Woodcock says. “If faster relief is needed, an antihistamine nasal spray like azelastine (asterine) can begin to relieve symptoms in just 15 minutes.”
Those suffering from more persistent and daily symptoms can benefit from nasal corticosteroid spray Fluticasone Propionate (Fronase) or Mometalson (Nasonex).
“They target nasal inflammation and congestion, but it can take up to two weeks to reach full efficacy,” Woodcock said. “For seasonal allergies, it is recommended to start nasal steroid spray two weeks before symptoms begin to begin. You can also combine nasal steroids with oral antihistamines for a few weeks to give nasal spray time to maintain symptoms.”
The grooves can help the stifling nose that comes from allergy season, but they do not stop the allergy itself.
“Oral branch layers such as pseudoephedrine (sudaphed) are held behind the pharmacy counter. They are also added to oral antihistamines with concomitant pills such as loratadine/pseudoephedrine (critin D). “However, do not use iliac aggregator nasal sprays for more than three days in a row to avoid rebound crowds that can be difficult to treat.”
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