It’s allergy season, and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s (AFA) annual list of the worst cities for spring allergies can help you figure out whether you’re in for a season of sneezing. Each year, the AAFA ranks the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. based on the following measures:
- Pollen scores (airborne grass/tree/weed pollen and mold spores)
- Number of allergy medications used per patient
- Number of allergy specialists per patient
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The south is typically tough on allergy sufferers, thanks to the warmer climates that help trees and mold to bloom. This year, Jackson, Mississippi comes in as the allergy capital of the U.S., followed by Knoxville and Chattanooga Tennessee. Jackson took the top spot thanks to its high pollen count that sent a large number of residents to the doctor for allergy medications. “Our spring listing usually features cities from the southeast and deep south, and the #1 spot is almost always a southern city,” said Mike Tringale, the AAFA’s Vice President of External Affairs in a statement.
Here are the AFA’s top 10 worst cities for allergies.