My son and I lived in Indiana most of our lives. Normal seasonal allergies. Nothing major (our bodies adapted to the pollens well since we lived there for such a long time). In 06 we moved to Tennessee and my allergies became terrible. Had to use an inhaler. My son had to go on allergy medicine for the first time. His sinuses became clogged constantly. We moved to Alabama this May (09). It has been a living nightmare. I have had pneumonia twice. My son lost his singing voice and had to go to an allergist. I am unemployed and no insurance. I take the allergy medicine that didn’t work for him. We are considering Seattle, Washington or back to the midwest like Kansas City or Pennsylvania. Seattle is out top pick for many reasons. I don’t want to move across the country and find we are in a nightmare. So far I have seen only one posting that someone couldn’t live there. Other than that, it seems favorable. I will take all of the feedback I can get. I’m a single Mom and a move this large for nothing could be catastrophic for to us. Thanks so much! – Submitted by Michelle in Alabama
Missouri [MO]
German visits Missouri, finds home in Hawaii “perfect for people with allergies”
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
Travelled 50 states, allergic in Oklahoma – move to MO?
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
Tuscarawas Valley in Ohio worst place on earth for allergies, IA and MO were better
I truly believe that the Tuscarawas Valley in Ohio is the WORST place on earth for allergies — pollens & molds particularly. It rains here a lot. Which is depressing in itself. It does keep the landscape green in the summertime & that’s nice. But something is always pollinating somewhere and the molds are always with us. If allergice to grasses, trees, molds, I wouldn’t not move to this are of Ohio. I have been sick for 4 years – ever since moving here! Other places I’ve lived – in Iowa and Missouri – I had some allergy problems but nothing like here. – Linda, Ohio
All four family members and two Maltese dogs with seasonal allergies in St. Louis
We live in a St. Louis suburb and our allergies are so bad that all four of our family members have had to have shots, tried almost every allergy med available and still struggle with symptoms from time to time. My son and I both have asthma – which is no fun – but we found that if our allergies are under control – so is our asthma. The allergies in this area are so bad that even our 2 dogs (maltese) have seasonal allergies – hows that for one sick family?? We are seriously on a first name basis with all the staff and doctors at my ENT’s office! It’s so bad, they joke about giving me a job! – Karen, St. Louis, MO
Missouri, California
I live in Missouri and this is the worst I have been sicker here than I was in California. I’ve been here for 13 years and it seems like I’m getting sicker and sicker every year.I don’t know where a person can go to escape. When I lived in California I lived in the Bay Area (the San Fransisco region), Northern California,L.A.,and the high dessert and I was sick in all of them. I’ve suffered with this all my life.
They say I’m allergic to dust and mold in addition to having many environmental allergies. There are times when I’m in a car and drive down a street and will become violently ill for no apparent reason to the point of passing out. I have learned that when this begins to happen I need to immediately pull over and go inside one of the larger resturants because they usually have a clean air system (Casa Gallarda saved my life) and I will normally recover in 5 to 10 minutes.
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Jamaica, St. Louis, maybe Alaska?
I’m from Jamiaca by way of the Bahamas and I’m a chronic, perennial allergy sufferer. My allergens are mold, ragweed, trees and dust. I’m sure there are some food ones thrown in as well.
Anyway I’m living in St. Louis since 1999 and it has been just awful. I’ve had two surgeries because my nasal passages keep growing shut and I’m always stuffy and breaking out in hives despite being on zyrtec, allergy shots, rhinocort and singulair. My ENT says he doesn’t know how to help me and my allergist keeps trying different combinations of drugs that wokrk for a time and then stop.
Alaska sounds like the place for me! What do you think? — Hillary, St. Louis
Climate and asthma – worst places to live
“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.
Alaska, Missouri
About 11 years ago, I moved from Alaska to St. Louis to go to school. i still live in St. Louis. From the moment I stepped off the plane I noticed a difference in my ability to breathe. Whenever the climate goes from spring to summer, I have great difficulty breathing, as if my lungs just won’t expand. I usually take allegra, and after about a month, I don’t have a problem anymore. This is a difficult month, though, and I often wish I could go back to Alaska during that time. — LB, Missouri
Missouri, North Dakota, Minnesota, Arizona
I am 25 years old and moved to Kansas city, MO from ND three years ago. Since I have moved, my allergies have gotten out of control. I am greatly allergic to mold and grass pollen. I have had recurrent sinus infections in ALL seasons and have subsequently developed asthma since moving here. I take allegra-D, inhalers and nasal sprays, but it doesn’t seem to do much. My allergies are better when I do go back up to MN and ND, however there are much worse even there than they ever were before I moved to Kansas City. Does anyone have experience with Arizona, specifically Scottsdale, and allergies? — Karri, Kansas City, Missouri
