30 Worst U.S. Cities For Allergies

If the reports are right, then this allergy season is going to be worse -- and longer -- than it has been in previous years. One in five Americans suffers from some type of allergy, and the number of red eyes and sniffling may be increasing across the United States.

According to a large, nationally representative study involving two million blood samples by research lab Quest Diagnostics, allergies are on the rise -- ragweed sensitivity jumped 15 percent between 2005 and 2008, while mold increased by 12 percent. And the overall sensitization rate to 11 different allergens, according to the findings, climbed almost six percent during that same time frame.

"The level of sensitization to these common allergens is increasing," study author Stanley Naides of Quest Diagnostics' Nichols Institute told USA Today. And, as with many things in life, it may come down to a matter of location, location, location. "The highest areas are in the Southwest, and one has to raise the question of whether weather is contributing to this." That may mean climate change is a factor in increasing allergy rates, according to Naides, although more research is needed before drawing definitive conclusions.

Topping that regional list were Phoenix and Las Vegas, newly crowned as the allergy capitals of the country. Check out Quest Diagnostics' list of the top states for ragweed allergies, based on the percent of people who have a sensitivity, below -- their website also has a list that encompasses sensitization figures on all 11 popular allergens, as well as more graphics to explain their widespread findings.

Did your city make the list?

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• Phoenix

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 29.3 <em>Source: <a href="http://www.questdiagnostics.com/home/physicians/health-trends/allergies" target="_blank">Quest Diagnostics</a>.</em>

• Las Vegas

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 25.7

• Kansas City

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 24.1

• Riverside-San Bernardino

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 24.1

• Dallas

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 23.6

• Chicago

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 23.1

• Sacramento

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 22.9

• Philadelphia

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 22.6

• Denver

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 22.3

• Washington, D.C.

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 21.7

• Minneapolis/St. Paul

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 21.7

• New York

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 21.2

• Cincinnati

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 21.1

• Baltimore

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 20.5

• Cleveland

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 20.3

• St. Louis

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 19.9

• Detroit

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 19.9

• Atlanta

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 19.4

• Boston

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 18.1

• Pittsburgh

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 17

• Orlando

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 17.6

• Los Angeles

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 17.4

• San Antonio

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 17.4

• Houston

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 16.6

• Seattle

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 15.6

• San Diego

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 15

• Tampa

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 14.3

• Portland

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 14.2

• San Francisco

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 11.4

• Miami

  Ragweed Sensitization Rate: 10.8

Comments

[Bess Menousek]

08:15 PM on 07/08/2011

Not surprised to see St. Louis on this list. Weather is crazy in STL and with it comes plenty of allergens. If any of you in St. Louis are looking for allergy treatment, Dr. Caroline Menousek provides the cure for allergies using all natural remedies. I know a lot of people don't trust alternative medicine, but I've seen it work. She's cured everything from seasonal allergies to lactose intolerance. Don't believe me? Check out the testimonials on her website! http://www.doctorcaroline.com/

[gypsynomad]

04:03 PM on 05/29/2011

Nashville.

[sushi27]

08:10 AM on 05/28/2011

We used to go to see grandma every spring break and I would suffer congestion like crazy - everyone said that was silly, Chicago was much worse. They were all wrong. Spent the last two years in Las Vegas taking care of parents and guess what - my allergies were soooo much worse could hardly breath. Came back to Chicago and allergies are actually better, go figure.

[marianproletarian]

02:16 PM on 05/27/2011

I really do believe climate change has to do with rising rate of allergy sufferering. The last three years have been especially bad. Sacramento used to be very dry and definitely warm by May, but now we seem to have a real spring (rain, wind, clouds, temps all over the place) and quite humid summers.

[mntnguy]

09:51 PM on 05/27/2011

Allergies have to do with your environment but in a very different way. The fact you have a pet in the house, your over all level of hygiene, certain irritants in perfumes and fragrances, any number of things can cause them. Even the dead skill cells in your bed! I know yuk! As for Sacramento Things are just coming back into line with how they were. This is actually the normal season for the Central valley. We had a real winter, a real spring, and I assume it will be a blistering hot summer!

[marianproletarian]

01:03 PM on 05/31/2011

True. But you have to admit, this weather is pretty wacky. I've lived in Northern CA since 1976 and Sac since 1993, and don't remember ever having thunder showers in June (we're supposedly getting some tomorrow). I'm still using my heater in the morning.

[j91971]

11:52 AM on 05/27/2011

Is this list based solely on ragweed? Ragweed is just one of many allergens...

[mntnguy]

09:55 PM on 05/27/2011

I was wondering about the metrics they used for this also! There is alot of leading allergens they totally left out. It just kinda seems to be a list of all the major cities in the US, arranged together in some fashion. I know SF and SD really should not be on the list when compared to the central valley or say Tuscon. The number of allergy suffering people in those areas are off the charts! according to the CDC. Then again who can take them seriously anymore after the fake warning of a pending Zombie attack!

[Shelley Spaulding]

09:25 AM on 05/27/2011

I'm am very surprised that there were no Oklahoma Cities on this list. I live in OKC and suffer from allergies all year round (I don't think I have even two weeks of nonsuffering a year). I also travel a lot, and many of the places they listed I have been too, and have never had allergy attacks while there. In fact, that's about the only time I get any relief.

[SWLinPHX]

08:32 AM on 05/27/2011

I'm in Phoenix and I believe it! I had terrible allergies every Spring here growing up. Mild now as an adult, and not really affected as much the rest of the yaer.

[leskataus]

11:40 PM on 05/26/2011

I'm not surprised to see that Phoenix and Las Vegas topped the list. Despite what many people might think, living in a desert is not as healthy as they might think. I have found living in that climate really aggravates my allergies. What's worse is when it is accompanied by blowing dust and high winds. Strangely enough, the only place I have ever lived that didn't give me any problems was Miami.

[Jillianw]

09:16 PM on 05/26/2011

Can't stop sneezing in Phoenix. I believe it. It's so dusty here and we never get enough rain.

[GaelMc]

07:42 PM on 05/26/2011

If Atlanta is 18th I would not want to live in the first 17 cities. Have the researchers been here? Have they seen the clouds of yellow pollen blowing through the air, the yellow haze over the whole city reminiscent of the old smoggy days in LA? The yellow gritty layer on decks and cars and (Sneeze) windows sills and interior furniture when I forgot to close the window? Hummmm well have they?

[marianproletarian]

02:19 PM on 05/27/2011

Have you been to the other 17 cities? Here in Sacramento, we suffer year round. Bad valley air, fluctuating temps, warm wet weather, and the trees, trees, trees, trees! I'm dying over here!

[Michael677]

06:39 PM on 05/26/2011

Did money go to this idiotic study its like the stupidest list I ever read

[Bushido08]

06:27 PM on 05/26/2011

Strange conclusion on big cities having highest ragweed sensitivity. First I wouldn't think that there was that much ragweed in places like New York or other large cities compared to say some city in Montana or Nebraska. So I guess if you have allergies move to a small town in the country.

[beccawentzler]

08:51 PM on 05/26/2011

I find it a bit strange too, since most of those large cities are mostly concrete, and some trees. Ragweed seems to run a lot higher in the outskirts of cities and less developed areas, like in the country. We have a cow pasture behind where we live, and you can see ragweed all over the place. Also, need to keep in mind that certain foods have the same cross chemicals of ragweed in them, i.e., such as melons, cucumbers, squashes, bananna's, etc.

[Jen Casey]

05:57 PM on 05/26/2011

This study kind of seems stupid; the list pretty much includes every major metropolis in any area of the continental United States. Wouldn't it be easier to say that the whole country is bad?

[debnran]

05:46 PM on 05/26/2011

This study means nothing. I live in an urban area, but not a "Big city" and I was not surveyed. No one I know who I know has allergies was surveyed. If you look at the population of the cities, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that you are going to have a bunch of allergy sufferers. To rank them, all you need to do is figure out which cities have fewer plants. The only way to get a true statistic of what area has the most allergies is to survey everyone in the country.

[differentfunorl]

05:46 PM on 05/26/2011

lol, that's the whole country, lol