We need to move from Ohio. I am allergic to dust mites, trees that are grown in Ohio and the Midwest, and grass. My wife is allergic to molds. I can not even take my 5 year old son outside without getting Bhronchitis this year. We are looking at moving to either Arizonia, Southern California, Colorado or Nevada. Which place would be best? I lived in NW Ohio and Central Ohio except for 5 years in Memphis. My allergies have always been bad in Ohio. My allergies were a little better in Memphis. — Rick, Ohio

I have suffered with hives and allergies all my life. Born and raised in the southeast-TN, FL, NC. As an adult I chose to move around the country to find healthier ground. I went to the Northeast - too cold - so I moved to Las Vegas in 1997.

I thought the dry heat would help. Once you get past the first year of nose bleeds and sinus dryness and dehydration, it does get a little better becuase there are no real season changes. Although there are many new allergies I had never felt before - Watery burning eyes for weeks from the dust and blooming olive trees (olive trees which became such a air hazard they were banned from the county).

The first year was bad but after 8 years I decieded to move back southeast to NC. Mainly due to the pollution (air qaulity) in Las Vegas has gotten so bad. Now that I have been back the first six months have been as it should getting use to the changing of seasons again. In six months I have had two colds which put me into the antibiotic slide. One drug to the next always ends up giving me horroable hives/angioedema for weeks.

Now in my mid 30’s I am finally learning how to deal with my body reactions to environment and medications with all the side effects. Live where it makes you happy and manage the side effects of everthing else. Life is to short to be stuck indoors or in one place. Enjoy life! — GW, North Carolina

“There’s no such thing as an ‘asthma-free’ city,” says Mike Tringale, Director of Communications at Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. This is from a February 8, 2006, press release announcing the 2006 U.S. Asthma Capitals.

Topping the list are Scranton, PA, Richmond, VA, and Philadelphia, PA. Only one southern city, 4th ranked Atlanta, GA, made the top ten this year. You can check out the entire list of 100 Worst Cities for Asthma in 2006 from the AAFA website.

This is the third year AAFA has ranked cities for asthma. During the first two years, southern cities took the top three spots with the exception of third-ranked St. Louis, MO in 2005. St. Louis has consistently scored in the top ten all three years. In 2004, KY and TN topped the list, and last year (2005) Little Rock, AR (directly east of my western AR location) and St. Louis, MO (directly to my north) took the #2 and #3 spots. This year brought some surprises, as the North Central and North Eastern seaboard areas seem to dominate. See the 2004, 2005, and 2006 lists to see how your area fares.

Feel free to share any local reports or commentary from your area in the comments. Copyrighted material should be in the form of links with your comments about the link. Please do not post copyrighted material, with the exception of a brief sentence to introduce the link.

We currently live in Florida but are thinking of moving to Tennessee. My son has allergies to the pollen and mold here. I am curious to know if he will do better in Tennessee’s climate. — S.C., Florida

[First posted to AllergyNursing.com on May 18, 2003]

After suffering from recurrent sinus infections, asthma and allergies, I began to study climate and locations to try to better my situation. I chose Guadalajara, Mexico, after trying some SW locations.

The results have been/are amazing. No allergy, asthma or sinus problems while there over a six year period. Yet, each time that I returned to the US - the Memphis area - I became ill almost immediately, and returned to all of the medications, antibiotics, prednisone, inhaled steroids etc. and suffered until returning to Guadalajara, where I felt better almost immediately, and was fully recovered within a week. Often in a day or so.

The climate in Guadalajara is said to be the “2nd best in the world.” GDL is a mile high and does not have wide ranges or swings of temperature. While there is air pollution, it would appear that the high-dry climate was beneficial to my condition. — M.C.M., Guadalajara, Mexico

[Originally posted to Allergy Nursing.com on May 18, 2003]