Are these eight states allergy-free?
Last week’s questions about allergies in Boise Idaho has yielded no comments. But it made me think. We’ve been publishing climate information here in Allergy Climates and Seasons for almost 2 1/2 years. Yet no one has written about the 8 states listed below. Are we to assume that these states are allergy-free? Please share any allergy experience you have had in these states.
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- West Virginia
–AllergyNurse
After living in Michigan for 40 years I moved to Louisiana a year ago and I have had allergic symptoms ever since! Post-nasal drip, congestion, tickly cough worst at night, allergic “shiners”, and there have even been instances when I’ve felt like I was having some asthmatic symptoms. I’m taking Singulair, Claritin, Flonase, and a 12-hour decongestant daily and STILL Have symptoms. They seem to be related to something both inside and outside my home though in the springtime it’s absolutely worse when I leave my home. I’ve been told a local flowering bush called “logustrum” is a common culprit. I can honestly tell you that it’s wearing me out.
Comment by Stacy — November 9, 2007 @ 4:42 pm
With regards to your rhetorical question about whether or not Louisiana is allergy-free, I can assure you that almost everybody I’ve talked to about my symptoms has said that Louisiana’s climate is notorious for causing allergies! Scratch Louisiana off the allergy-free list!
Comment by Stacy — November 9, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
I lived in Virginia and West Virginal for 10 years. WV and the Western part of Virginia are the worst for my allergies. Richmond and further east towards Norfolk seem to be better, maybe something to due with trees, breezes and mountains. My allergies are mostly trees, grass, mold/mildew and pretty much everything else. I lived in NC, Charlotte and Greensboro and they were bad as well. I live in Jacksonville now near the beaches and this location with its strong breeze seems to be the best that I’ve experienced other than Richmond, VA.
What treatments have worked for me? I found that I respond best to Claritin 3-4 times a day along with Nasonex/Rhinocort 2x daily. I also like to use nasalcrom 3 or four times as well. You could say I have bad allergies:) My symptoms were strange. I got nose ache and headaches daily. I saw nuerologists/Allergists/ENT’s and various other doctors for a resolution. I’m talking about spending thousands of dollars trying to track this down. Who found it??? ME,crazy huh! I tried shots and they aren’t working or they have not had enough time to work. My advice to everyone is to try a combination of claritin/Allegra and Nasocort/Rhinocort and the Nasalcrom. You will figure out eventually what works for you and with allergies that’s key! This is just my personal experience, I’m not a doctor so make sure you talk to your physician, but sometimes you have to push. These guys are just like you and me, guessing…scary huh? Good Luck
Comment by Keith — November 24, 2007 @ 9:51 pm
Does anyone know about Idaho? I have asthmatic kids, we currently live in Texas. However, I have a job opportunity in Boise. Does anyone know how Boise folks fair regarding Allergies?
Comment by mike — November 28, 2007 @ 9:42 am
I can vouch for Maine and RI. I’ve lived in both for at least 4 years each. Miserable allergies. Down south I feel good… I may consider moving there. Just my case of course.
Comment by Eric Dimbleby — January 24, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
The “2006 Spring Allergy Capital Rankings” by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America listed Hartford,Connecticut #1 in its list of the 100 most challenging places to live with spring allergies. www.AllergyCapitals.com
I have tree, grass, and mold allergies. I live in Wisconsin and as soon as the trees bloom, I’m indoors until frost. The trees, followed by grasses, have been blooming earlier every year and are now starting in late April. As soon as the snow melts, mold is present in the dead grasses and leaves that were under the snow all winter. In late summer, ragweed is a killer until frost. At that point, you have a couple weeks until it’s freezing cold.
I was considering moving to New Mexico, but posts have led me to reconsider. I can’t touch a juniper bush without breaking out, so I imagine juniper pollen would make life miserable there.
I’m now researching Colorado (other than Denver), Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Arizona (I know Phoenix and Mesa are bad, but what about Flagstaff?)
Has anyone lived in Ireland? What is the allergy situation there for tree and grass pollen and mold?
I encourage people giving allergy reports to indicate what their allergies are. An area with little pollen might be very bad for mold and vice versa. Unless we know what you’re allergic to, saying an area is good or bad is meaningless.
Comment by Tara Moon — March 2, 2008 @ 7:07 pm
Delaware has trees, dust, air pollution however if you are near the beach it is beneficial for asthhmatics and allergy sufferers.
Boise, Idaho has cleaner air quality but many trees. Beautiful environment.
Comment by Glenda Stewart — March 3, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
I live in the Hampton Roads area and I can tell you that this area is not any better for allergies. Maybe close the beach is better. If I lived oceanfront, I might do well. But I currently take four allergy shots weekly, and I am on two inhalers, one nasal spray, an antihistamine, a decongestant and Singular. At this moment, I have a case of bronchitis due to a sinus infection because it was ‘windy’ on Monday and Tuesday and I did not wear a face mask outside. I am looking to move anywhere but here. I did not have asthma, allergies or sinus infections until I moved to Tidewater.
Comment by Ashley — March 7, 2008 @ 1:40 pm
Hampton Roads is in Norfolk, Virginia, for anyone who might not know the area.
Comment by Ashley — March 7, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
Flagstaff is not bad, nice clear air—and my allergies/asthma are bad here in Scottsdale; However,I have only been there in November. M friends have lived there for years, and report their allergies are not bad there, but there are a lot of fir/pine trees. The higher altitude and distance from the city helps tremendously- it is not a congested area. You might also check Prescott, or the areas north of Phoenix and Scottsdale. The higher altitudes here are generally better because of the altitude itself, and they are less populated, less polluted.
Comment by Courtney — March 7, 2008 @ 2:11 pm
I moved to Phoenix,AZ, from Louisville,Ky. I’ve always heard what a great place Az is for drier air (not in monsoon season) and for respiratory problems (not according to the brown air pollution). But, hey the shopping is great, and I’ve found a good allergist and will be starting my allergy shots, in a couple of weeks. And while at the allergists office, a 21y/o came in for his on going treatment. He was born in Phoenix, and is now in school in Flaggstaff. He did not develope allergies until moving there for school.So, Flaggstaff is out too.
Comment by Gloria — March 23, 2008 @ 5:31 pm
Scratch Delaware off your list! I moved to Delaware in 2004 and never had any allergies beforehand. By 2005 I was breaking out in hives covering my entire body almost daily, no matter the season… Come to find out, in that year, I developed allergies to Mold, Dust, Dust Mites, Various food items (including, and especially APPLES!), Trees, Grass, molds, etc. And Delaware has plenty of Dust,tons of trees, various grasses and horrible air pollution.
Comment by Kelli — April 5, 2008 @ 11:35 pm
Hi,
I am looking for solutions for relief from my allergies.
I live in S. Fla. I have had shots, and tried every kind of nasal spray available. The sprays gives me headaches and sore throats. The antihistamines dry me up so much that I don’t drain and get sinus infections. I tried Singulair once and thought it was going to be my answer, but I ended up with a sinus infection. Could have been a coincidence, but it says on the lable it can cause sinusitis.
I am working today but in a fog, cold as heck, sneezing and blowing and could just sleep around the clock from the fatigue of it.
I had always thought living WEST was what doctors told us to do, so I was surprised at the Arizona comments.
Comment by Deborah — April 17, 2008 @ 9:50 am
Like Ashley wrote, Louisiana is DEFINITELY not allergy free. My daughter’s pediatrician recently told me that a whopping 80% of people in the state suffer from allergies. Of course, the Hurricane didn’t help matters and contributed greatly to mold, etc. in the metro New Orleans, southeastern, part of the state area. In the spring/summer, cars, etc. get covered in pollen, so much so that I have to hose off mine each morning. As a life long Louisiana resident, it seems like each year more and more of my friends and family members complain of allergy related symptoms. Just about everyone I know is on Zyrtec, though unfortunately, it doesn’t work for me.
Comment by Dianna in Louisiana — May 3, 2008 @ 10:13 am
Hi Deborah,
I use the Grossan Hydro Pulse Nasal & Sinus Irrigation System. It’s like a “water pik” for your nose. It’s available at many websites. I used to get several sinus infections every year. Not any more since I’ve been using my Hydro Pulse (since 2005). Good luck.
Comment by Valerie — May 5, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
Hey guys,
I was searching for some answers, thinking I was one in perhaps a million or two who is having such a torid time with allergies and allergy symptoms. I live in New York, outside the city, an hour’s drive or so and this year has been the worst for me.
I’ve had near fainting spells, choking episodes, heavy nasal congestion and episodic dry coughing spells. I’ve seen a host of specailists, from neurologist to allergist to now an ENT later today.
I was hoping to move to an area out West perhaps Phoenix, but after today’s comments, now I am really troubled. Are there any allergy free states out there–can anyone help!!
Comment by Peter — May 7, 2008 @ 3:06 am
i dont know but im thinking puerto rico
Comment by miguel lebron — May 8, 2008 @ 3:24 am
Cross Ireland, Louisiana, Texas, Maine, NH, and almost every place you mention. I have just returned from Ireland with a terrible chronic bronchitis, live in Texas where I can’t get rid of it and it’s getting worse. Lived in Maine and NH and I can tell you it’s just as bad there. Plus you have the ultimate in cold weather, making it impossible to avoid a flu every year and just when you’re getting better, it’s spring….achoo. I think we have to boost our immune systems real fast because our planet is full of allergens from pollution (caused by people and natural disasters) to plant matter. Not to mention that with world travel, people are bringing their germs to other places. Remember the AZTECS? Where do you think they went…and why?
Comment by Beverly — May 13, 2008 @ 2:27 pm