Millions of people across the country each year suffer from pollen-related sneezing, coughing, and watery eyes in the spring. And in some areas, “spring allergies” can start in February and last through early summer.
In fact, about a quarter (25.7%) of all U.S. adults have a seasonal allergy, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Allergies are the sixth-leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S., and are a common asthma trigger leading to increased hospital visits for asthma during peak pollen season, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
Some regions may be better suited for allergy-sufferers than others.
A recent report from the AAFA details the most challenging cities in the United States for living with allergies – or what it refers to as “Allergy Capitals.”
In 2024, Wichita, Kansas was named the worst city in America for allergies due …