An Unwelcome Harvest, Fall Allergies Arrive Nationwide

Allergy Foundation Releases Annual "Fall Allergy Capitals" Rankings, Louisville is #1

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fall is a time to enjoy beautiful colors and autumn weather outdoors. But for 40 million Americans with seasonal allergies, this time of year brings an unwelcome harvest: trillions of pollen particles traveling through the air right into your eyes, nose and mouth. Allergic rhinitis – also called nasal allergies, seasonal allergies or hay fever – is among the most common chronic diseases for children and adults, affecting more than 12 percent of the U.S. population.

The primary fall allergy trigger – ragweed pollen – causes itchy runny nose, nasal congestion, repeated sneezing, watery eyes, inflamed sinuses and, in severe cases, difficulty breathing. It can be more problematic if you also have asthma.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) recently announced its 2012 Fall Allergy Capitals™ ranking, and Louisville, Kentucky, tops the list as "the most challenging place to live with fall allergies." The annual report names 100 U.S. cities based on an analysis of three factors including pollen, allergy medications usage and the number of allergy specialists per patient. See the full list at www.AllergyCapitals.com.

The Top 10 Fall Allergy Capitals this year are:

"Everyone seems to be feeling allergies these days and fall is the most common allergy season after spring," says Dr. Beth Corn, a Board Certified Allergist in New York City and a member of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). "No matter if it's men, women or children, in the city, suburbs or the country, allergies don't discriminate," says Corn.

However, AAFA is quick to remind that no matter what city you live in allergies can be a problem all year long, indoors as well as outdoors. According to Brian Oliver, a spokesperson for AAFA, "With a little bit of planning and some good cleaning habits, you can keep your home as allergy-friendly as possible." AAFA offers these tips no matter where you live:

1. Keep windows and doors closed to prevent pollen from blowing into the house. 

2. Control dust mites on the bed. Look for a Certified asthma & allergy friendly mattress, like the Breathe mattress from Spring Air, and wash sheets weekly in hot water (130-degrees F) to kill mites and their eggs. 

3. Use a quality vacuum that has a high-efficiency filter weekly to keep indoor allergens to a minimum.

4. Change the air filter in your furnace regularly. Filters can trap lots of dust and allergens, so replace them every 30-90 days. Look for Certified asthma & allergy friendly filters, like Lysol brand air filters.

5. Reduce the presence of mold by decreasing moisture around the house, keeping humidity below 50% and clearing the yard of damp firewood and leaves. 

AAFA has many more free tips, plus the full Fall Allergy Capitals report at www.AllergyCapitals.com

About AAFA
AAFA is the leading patient organization for people with asthma and allergies in the U.S. The asthma & allergy friendly™ Certification Program is a joint project of AAFA and Allergy Standards Limited (ASL), an international research and testing organization. The program develops scientific testing protocols and standards for various types of environmental control products. Learn more at www.aafa.org/certified.

SOURCE The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America