The snowstorm is over, but do not forget about the years of allergy suffering.
Dr. Kirk Waibel, an allergist at Aspire Allergy & Sinus, told MySA.com he was not surprised to see San Antonio end up in the Top 20 of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s annual rankings of the hardest places to deal with allergies to live. . The Alamo City came in at number 14, dropping seven places from the 2020 rankings.
The drop in rankings may seem like a good thing, but San Antonio’s overall score was not far from the number 7 spot – Springfield, MA, was at 84.28, while we were at 81. The report looks at three key factors in the ranking – pollen counts in spring and autumn, drug use without a prescription and availability of allergists. The study, which dates from 2003, determines the ranking from the available data 12 months in advance.
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“As patients with allergies know, San Antonio has some unique features that are not found in many places,” Waibel said as he explained why the city continues to end up in the top 20. ‘We specifically have a long tree season that starts with ash, then moves into oak pollen (think of all the yellow stuff that is covered in your car every year) and then elm, hackberry and others can contract. ‘
In addition, Waibel said warmer months and increasing urbanization in San Antonio have led to the fall season beginning earlier in the year during the summer and then continuing until November. And of course, he notices the dreaded season of the mountain cedar (which lasts from December to February).
“Individuals with environmental allergies therefore never get a breather here in south Texas. Minus’ snowstorm last week, we really do not have a ‘true winter’ when there is no pollen in the air like other cities, said Waibel.
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While the blizzard killed plant life, Waibel believes it was not strong enough to kill the old, deep-rooted trees in San Antonio. The allergies will therefore continue in the area, he said.
It is important to note that the study by The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that climate change caused extreme weather conditions – such as heat waves and droughts – in the US spring in 2020 is on average 2 degrees warmer, while the fall is 2.5 degrees is warmer on average. This can be a problem because warmer, longer seasons can cause allergy trees and plants to move into new areas, the report said.
In Texas, the other two cities that made the Top 20 are McAllen (No. 4) and Dallas (No. 19). Scranton, PA ended up in the first place.
To help beat the seasonal allergies, the Aspire Allergy & Sinus Center recommends taking medication without medication before starting your day, washing your hands, face and putting on your clothes after being outside. You should also avoid outdoor exercise early in the morning if the number of pollen is higher. If the symptoms worsen, you can visit your local allergist for more insight.
Priscilla Aguirre is a General Reporter for MySA.com | [email protected] | @CillaAguirre