I recently wrote about a laundry list of awards that Louisville and its attractions have garnered over the past year or so. But hold on, we just got another one:
“Most Challenging Place to Live with Spring Allergies”
Yeah!
Louisville is apparently absolutely the worst city for spring allergies for 2014, up from number five last year. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has released its rankings for the worst cities for spring and fall allergies for the last 12 years.
The ranking, on which Louisville got a full 100-point score, is based on a pollen score of average grains per cubic meter of air, amount of medication used per patient in the area, and the number of Board Certified Allergists per patient. Louisville didn’t get the highest score in that last area, but still beat out Memphis, Tennessee by three points.
The Southeast is well represented in the list of worst cities, so if you plan to try to travel to get at least some temporary relief, you’ll need to plan to get out of the region. Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Richmond, Virginia; and Birmingham, Alabama are all also in the top 10.
If you are indeed challenged by allergies here in Louisville, you are not alone. The AAFA says 45 million Americans live with nasal allergies; 25 million have asthma. The city ranking is meant to be a reminder that you need to be aware, take your allergies seriously, and have a plan for dealing with them. The organization provides resources online and an 800 number for those who would like to discuss their options further.
I’ll see you in the Kleenex aisle.
Photo: Shutterstock Copyright: Olga_Phoenix
