 
There is no place safe from allergies in America, and some cities are more problematic than others. The Allergy Capitals is an annual research project of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) to identify “the 100 most challenging places to live with allergies” in the spring and fall seasons each year. The rankings are based on scientific analysis of 3 factors for the 100 largest metro areas in the U.S. The data measured and compared each year includes:
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Pollen scores (airborne grass/tree/weed pollen and mold spores)*
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Number of allergy medications used per patient
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Number of allergy specialists per patient
Top 5 Spring Allergy Capitals for 2010: 
1. Knoxville, TN
2. Louisville, KY
3. Chattanooga, TN
4. Dayton, OH
5. Charlotte, NC
Rankings Clash with America’s Love of the Outdoors
May is the height of springtime and there’s no better time for Americans to head outdoors. But for more than 35 million Americans with nasal allergies and over 20 million with asthma, the love of the outdoors clashes head-on with the reality that asthma and allergy triggers are at their peak this time of year, and in every corner of the U.S. It’s no surprise why May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.
Avoiding Triggers is an Inside Job, Too
Being outdoors can be tough but you should be just as concerned about indoor air quality. A growing body of evidence shows that the air inside our homes can contain more allergens and polluting agents than the air outside. But no matter where you live, there are some easy and effective steps that you can take to help reduce your exposure to allergens all year long. Click on the links below for more information about the 2010 Spring Allergy Capitals report, learn about allergies, tips to avoid triggers, and more.
More Information
Call 1-800-7-ASTHMA to discuss the research in detail or to speak with a member of AAFA's External Affairs Department.
 This report is made possible by Lowes, Lowes.com, where a healthy home begins, and where you can find all kinds of asthma & allergy friendly™ Certified products.
 Looking for products that have been proven more suitable for those with asthma and related allergies? Look for this mark and visit www.asthmaandallergyfriendly.com to find products and learn more.
 Special thanks to our research partner Pollen.com, a division of Surveillance Data, Inc.
*("Pollen score" is comprised of comprehensive recorded levels of airborne grass/tree/weed pollen and mold spores, and prevalence data for each of these specific types of allergens.)
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