According to the latest data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, nearly one in three adults and one in four children in the United States have reported suffering from a seasonal allergy in the last year.
Kenny Mendez, the CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, says that climate change could be a factor. “Carbon dioxide and ground-level ozone, both of those fuel more intense releases of pollen, so you’re having a longer and intense allergy season,” he says. ”And that can be challenging for people with allergies and those with asthma who have allergic asthma triggered by allergies.”
AAFA recently released its 2023 Allergy Capitals report. It compiles information from the 100 largest metropolitan cities in the United States. Some of the factors that the nonprofit takes into consideration to conduct its research are tree, grass and weed pollen scores, over-the-counter medication usage and availability of board-certified allergists and immunologists. Miami ranked fourteen out of the top twenty most challenging metropolitan areas to live with these health conditions.
“Of the top 20 allergy capitals, seven were in Florida. And what we found is that there’s a higher degree of over-the-counter medication usage, and pollen releases,” says Mendez.
Some of the recommendations to follow to keep allergies in control during the spring season are to keep your windows closed and avoid going outside during high pollen release times. If you have to be outside, leave your clothes at the door once you come back.