DAYTON — Spring is here and a welcome sight for some, but it also means itchy, watery eyes and sneezing allergy season for others.
For the first time in over a decade, Dayton is not ranked in the top 15 cities in the Allergy Capitals report from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
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This report examines tree, grass, and weed pollen scores, over-the-counter medication use, and the number of allergy specialists. Then it ranks the most challenging 100 cities for allergy sufferers to live in.
Last year, Dayton was ranked as the 13th hardest city to live in; this year, it is ranked 88th with better-than-average scores. Only two Ohio cities are ranked higher, Toledo at 71 and Cincinnati at 78. Three other cities ranked lower than Dayton, Columbus, 92 Akron, 96, and Cleveland, 98.
This report does not show less pollen in the air, but better than average, worse than average medicine usage, and an average amount of available specialists.
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News Center 7′s Taylor Robertson spoke with a family physician with Kettering Health Group who sees patients with allergy issues everyday about the allergy ranking of Dayton.
“We do know that climate change is effecting people’s allergies and affecting pollen counts,” Family Physician Kettering Health Group Middletown, Austin Williams, said.
William wonders if some areas got worse.
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“While at the same time, we’ve had a really cold spring so far, and so potentially that has kept our pollen counts a little lower.” Williams said.
Doctors say there are plenty of medications to combat the side effects.
“Medicines like Zyrtec, Allegra, Xyzal is the new one on the market, but the ones I actually like are the nasal sprays,” Williams said.
There are ways to avoid an allergy flare-up for allergy sufferers who want to enjoy the spring outdoors but do not like taking medication; avoid lawn care, do not hang up your laundry outside, do not keep outside clothes indoors, or stay inside.