Well, everyone should nix Jacksonville, Florida. Great people, great doctors there, but lousy for allergies and asthma. Even my husband who has never had allergies developed them there. My allergist had traveled with the Navy and said she’d never seen anything like it. But it makes sense if you watch the weather reports closely: the air flow brings in everything from the West AND combines with the winds that curl up from the Gulf of Mexico after passing over the islands, northern South America, and/or the Yucatan peninsula transporting spores and whatever from all those locales. I was on shots, 3 antihistamines/day, steroids, inhalers, and pills to deaden the scratch in my throat. Coughed my way into a hernia and surgery on my vocal cords because of this, too. Visit there, vacation there, but do not move there or drink the water–nasty stuff! – submitted by Kathy, Jacksonville FL
Mexico
Turks and Caicos, Baja, Mexico
I used to go to Turks and Caicos, a dry island, where I never used my inhalers. Now life there is only for mega-millionaires, as in most islands today. Seaside Baja is dry, but why pay through the nose for Mexico? Mountains above the pollen-line( about 5000 feet ) are good too. Last resort is to live in a bubble. — Gordon
Mexico, New Mexico, Germany
We moved because of the military from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Germany. My son had allergy/asthma issues before but nothing like now. He was retested since we have been here and he is allergic to mold which we did not test for in NM. His medication has been doubled since being here and he is now on 5 medicines at the age of 6. The Army is looking into moving us from Germany back to the states to a hotter/drier climate. Germany is very damp, and moldy. But we are yet to find out the best place for my son. What we do know is he was significantly better in NM. — S.K.H., Germany
[Originally posted to AllergyNursing.com on February 11, 2004]
Guadalajara, Mexico; Memphis; Southwest
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]
