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Is Your City an Allergy Capital?
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Hay fever season is here, and according to the Asthma and Allergy Association of America, people residing in the following 10 cities will suffer the most. Check them out in order of severity:
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Wichita, Kansas
- McAllen, Texas
- Greensboro, North Carolina
- Dayton, Ohio
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Augusta, Georgia
(The rankings are based, in part, on the city's seasonal pollen count, use of over-the-counter and prescription allergy medications and number of board-certified allergists.)
"Anyone who lives in an allergy capital (or if you're simply prone to hay fever) should take the necessary steps to minimize the impact of allergies on their life," says Mike Tringale, the foundations' director of external affairs. While your local pharmacy offers an arsenal of powerful allergy fighters, recent research has shined a positive light on these two alternative treatments, both of which are void of side effects.
Folic Acid
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Children's studied more than 8,000 people, ages 2 to 85, and found that people with higher blood levels of folic acid had fewer IgE antibodies (a blood-marker for allergic reactions), fewer reported allergies and less wheezing. The results appear in the most recent Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Aim for 400 micrograms of folic acid a day, which aside from supplements, can also be found naturally in green, leafy vegetables, beans and nuts, as well as in many cereals and grain products that are fortified with folic acid. Read our primer on folic acid here.
Neti Potting
Never heard of a neti pot? Then check it out on YouTube.com. It may look like a Jackass skit, but using a neti pot can offer you serious relief from hay fever. According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, clinical research shows that using a neti pot three times daily significantly reduces allergy symptoms. This type of nasal irrigation also reduced the use of oral antihistamines in patients. Other preliminary research shows that nasal irrigation decreases markers of inflammation in patients with allergies. You can pick up a pot at your local pharmacy.
About The Author
David Schipper – David began writing for CorePerformance.com in 2008, after spending six years at Men's Health magazine digging up the newest scientific research in health, weight loss, nutrition, muscle and cardiovascular fitness.
