I moved to Southern FLorida in the past month from Chicago and had never experienced allergies/hayfever. Now, I feel like I’m dying. Is it something in the air? The new trees and flowers? Different environment from the cement-jungle of Chicago? AND what should I do to alleviate if not rid my body completely of the sneezes, sniffles and mucous? Cannot take much more. Help!!! — Tim, Florida

I was born and raised in Germany and I suffered of allergies every summer. I think I am allergic mostly to weeds and grasses. I moved to Hawaii 9 years ago and since then all of my allergies have disappeared. I think Hawaii is perfect for people with allergies, because a lot of the weeds, trees and grasses that you’ll have to deal with on Continental US simply don’t grow there. I am convinced of this, because presently I am in Kansas City/Missouri and I have a terrible time with my allergies. So, I know the allergies haven’t just disappeared. Since I haven’t had to deal with it in Hawaii at all in the past 9 years I can only conclude that moving to Hawaii was indeed a geographic solution to the problem. I hope this helps somebody! — Simon, Hawaii

My son and I suffer from hayfever and my four year old son has asthma. We live in North Dakota and my hayfever just about kills me in the fall. I’m assuming its the mold and ragweed. We are looking at moving to the Black Hills area of South Dakota (Rapid City). Would that be better climate for seasonal allergies and asthma? — Gary, North Dakota

I need dry heat and no humidity or very low humidity. Where can you suggest. I am in Wisconsin now and I also have horrible allergies. To ragweed, grass, trees, molds and dustmites, cats etc. I was thinking of Scottsdale AZ. Do you know of a few climates that might work of me and that I could visit to check them out? I would really appreciate it. — Patricia, Wisconsin

This is my 2nd year living in Florida. Both husband and I are bothered terribly by itchy, swollen, red eyes, congestion, and sneezing. The first year here we were both fine and now we are miserable. What has changed in Florida’s air? We have both over the counter and prescription allergy medicine. Nothing is touching this. — Sharon, Florida

Note from AllergyNurse: Is it possible the increase in hurricane activity in recent years has spawned some changes that are just now surfacing? If so, what might they be?

After the Katrina hurricane, the news media kept us informed of the moldy conditions with items such as this one:
Toxic Mold Spreads through Soggy South (Associated Press on MSNBC, September 27, 2005.) But a study reported earlier that same year indicated that:
People Often Mistake Ordinary Allergy for Toxic Mold Syndrome (WebMD, January 27, 2005).

Of course, Florida had its big onslaught of hurricanes the previous year, in 2004. NOAA reported that “An unprecented 4 hurricanes (Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne) affected Florida this year [2004],” and Florida has experienced hurricane activity in years since then also.

Is all this affecting Florida’s air? There was some commentary that this may indeed be so in a previous post. See:
Seminole County Florida - new allergies?

What do you all think?

Here is an excellent item from Jackson Health System, Miami, Florida. This offers allergy sufferers tips on how to prepare before the hurricane, as well as what to do after the hurricane. See:
Hurricane Tips: Allergies

Lois (AllergyNurse)

Over the past 51 years I have traveled through all 50 states and lived in 16 of them. Most of my years have been in the Hawaiian Islands, Florida, California and now Oklahoma. I have NEVER been alergic to anything in my life, with the exception of Oklahoma, since my husband and I moved here 2 years ago. I AM MISERABLE! The doctor has me on 7 different meds and told me, “Move to Missouri!” After reading updates on the message board about MO, I’m sceptical… — Tamara, Oklahoma

I recently moved from San Antonio, Texas, to Corpus Christi, Texas.  Every has allergies–daughter, 2 dogs, and me.  Everyone says it’s the high humidity, but no one has told me what to do to survive.  This is my daughters first of four years in college.  We have the classic allergy symptoms, including runny eyes, sneezing, coughing, congestion, headache, etc.  My daughter and I are asthmatics.  My daughter has a very sensitive nose and strong smells causes her to break out in hives.  Please let me know what we can do so that we can endure the four years. — CeCe

I have lived in Seattle, WA for seven years and had no allergies. I Moved to Northern Virginia four years age and my allergy symptoms have gone up each year.  I am on medication 24/7.  I have always wanted to move to California because of the great weather.  Will my allegies get better in California?  If yes, please suggest an area. — Anuradha, Virginia

I moved to east central Kentucky 9 years ago from central California about 9 years ago, have always had lung and allergy troubles, they have definitely got worse here, I thought I would maybe get used to it here, but gets worse every year, I thought about moving, but not sure where. Would like to got to maybe Colorado or Wyoming, anybody have any ideas? Thanks and GOD bless — Gary, Kentucky