With spring just around the corner, some people may already be experiencing symptoms of outdoor allergies or "hay fever." While such allergies can occur anywhere in the nation, some cities are more challenging than others to live in for people with with seasonal allergies. Each year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) ranks the 100 cities that are the most difficult to live in if you have spring allergies based on analysis from 4 factors: allergy prevalence, seasonal pollen, allergy medicine utilization per patient, and the number of board certified allergists per patient. The results for 2008 are listed below, while 2009 results will not be available until after spring is well underway. Each year’s "Spring Allergy Capitals" are listed by the AAFA to help consumers recognize, prevent, and safely treat allergy symptoms.

The top 10 worst cities to live in with spring allergies are:

1. Lexington, KY
2. Greensboro, NC
3. Johnson City, TN
4. Augusta, GA
5. Jackson, MS
6. Knoxville, TN
7. Birmingham, AL
8. New Orleans, LA
9. Little Rock, AR
10. San Diego, CA

So what can you do about your own spring allergies? See "What treatments are available for outdoor allergies?" and "How can I prevent outdoor allergies?" in the Healia Health Guide to Outdoor Allergies. Share your experiences living with allergies in your part of the country by joining the Healia Health Community for Allergy.

_{Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2008 Spring Allergy Capitals, 4/09. http://aafa.org/pdfs/FINAL%20public%20LIST%20Spr2008.pdf}