According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), Lexington, Kentucky, is the worst city for allergy sufferers in the USA. The AAFA has issued the 2008 Rank – Rankings for the Allergy Capitals, which lists the top 100 cities for allergies. Greensboro, N.C.; Johnson City, Tenn.; Augusta, Ga.; and Jackson, Miss. Follow Lexington in the top five.
Spokane, Wash.; San Francisco, Cal.; Bakersfield, Cal.; Sarasota, Fla.; and Lancaster, Penn.; are ranked as the 5 least bad for allergy sufferers.
Over 35 million people in America suffer from allergic rhinitis (hay fever) each year, usually during the spring and early summer.
According to the AAFA, 2008 Rank – Rankings for the Allergy Capitals are based on analysis of data from four factors: Prevalence Data, Seasonal Pollen, Allergy Medicine Utilization per Patient, and the number of Board Certified Allergists per patient. Weights were applied to each factor and a composite final score was calculated for each Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
Here are the top thirty in order.
2008 Rank – Rankings for the Allergy Capitals
1 – Lexington, KY
2 – Greensboro, NC
3 – Johnson City, TN
4 – Augusta, GA
5 – Jackson, MS
6 – Knoxville, TN
7 – Birmingham, AL
8 – New Orleans, LA
9 – Little Rock, AR
10 – San Diego, CA
11 – Oklahoma City, OK
12 – Mobile, AL
13 – South Bend, IN
14 – Omaha, NE
15 – Stockton, CA
16 – McAllen, TX
17 – Greenville, SC
18 – Nashville, TN
19 – Tulsa, OK
20 – Harrisburg, PA
21 – Louisville, KY
22 – Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX
23 – Charlotte, NC
24 – Tampa, FL
25 – Philadelphia, PA
26 – Saint Louis, MO
27 – Scranton, PA
28 – Lansing, MI
29 – Madison, WI
30 – Rochester, NY
— 2008 Rank – Rankings for the Allergy Capitals (PDF)
— Allergy Capitals (AAFA web site)
Written by – Christian Nordqvist