Spring Allergies in Miami

Spring brings a number of pleasant feelings to mind – spring flowers, the rainy season and the nearing of summer vacation. However, for thousands of Miami residents, it also brings the beginning of a serious allergy season marked by runny noses, watery eyes and plenty of tissues. In this article, we take a look at where Miami stands relative to other US cities and some common sense precautions you can take to control your allergies.

A 2006 study by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranked the worst 100 U.S. cities for those who suffer from spring allergies. Miami ranked number 23 on that list. That’s much worse than our ranking at the bottom of the list in the 2005 study. Overall, our fair city received a score of 71.74 on a scale of 100.

What contributed to our low ranking? It’s not the level of pollen in the air. In fact, we’re just about at the national average as far as pollen is concerned. Apparently, we’re not doing very well at medicating ourselves against allergy attacks. Our medicine utilization and number of board certified allergists per patient rank well below the national average.

What were the worst cities for those suffering from allergies? Here’s the rundown on the 25 worst cities in America:

1. Hartford, CT
2. Greenville, SC
3. Boston, MA
4. Detroit. MI
5. Orlando, FL
6. Knoxville, TN
7. Omaha, NE
8. Sacramento, CA
9. Washington, DC
10. Baltimore, MD
11. New York, NY
12. Louisville, KY
13. Rochester, NY
14. Houston, TX
15. New Orleans, LA
16. Nashville, TN
17. Baton Rouge, LA
18. Sarasota, FL
19. Greensboro, NC
20. Las Vegas, NV
21. Johnson City, TN
22. Syracuse, NY
23. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, FL
24. Charleston, SC
25. Kansas City, MO

If you suffer from allergies, you may wish to try over-the-counter medications. Check with your physician or pharmacist for advice. If simple remedies don’t do the trick, you should consult a board-certified allergist. For more information on allergy treatment, see the About Allergies site.