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How Allergy-Prone is Your City?
Photo: Thinkstock
Photo: Thinkstock
It's not a good year for those who suffer from seasonal allergies: an early spring meant that trees released their pollen ahead of schedule (official recording of the levels doesn't start until April), which triggered itchy eyes and runny noses as early as February.

But it's really not a good year for allergy sufferers who happen to live in Knoxville, Tennessee—recently ranked as the most challenging place to live with hay fever by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). These rankings of the 100 largest US metro areas are based on pollen scores, number of allergy meds used per patient, and number of allergy specialists per patient. You can see the full list, and find out where your city ranked, by checking out the AAFA's web site. You may also want to head over to Weather.com, which has some interesting explanations of how cities broke into the top ten--for example, Louisville, Kentucky (#3 on the list) is plagued by poor air quality, and air pollution tends to exacerbate allergy symptoms.

Are you already sick of sneezing (and the season has just begun!)? Maybe you're taking your antihistamines at the wrong time, or maybe you just need a little more practice with the neti pot. Read more about these and other doctor-recommended allergy busters: 6 Reasons You're Still Suffering from Allergies

Topics: Health
As a reminder, always consult your doctor for medical advice and treatment before starting any program.
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