Of the 100 most populated metropolitan areas in the continental U.S. whose residents are plagued with pollen allergies this year, Oklahoma City ranks fourth and Tulsa is fifth.
Last year, OKC ranked fifth and Tulsa placed 21st. One Southwest Ledger reporter who lives in OKC has received “high pollen alert” advisories each day for more than a month.
Wichita, Kansas, took the top spot based on its high tree and grass pollen scores, higher-than-average use of allergy medicines, and limited number of allergy/immunology specialists per patient. Dallas, Texas, ranked second, and Scranton, Pennsylvania, came in third.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recently released its annual Allergy Capitals report for 2023. The report ranked the cities based on tree, grass, and weed pollen scores, over-the-counter allergy medicine use, and availability of board-certified allergists/immunologists.
“The Oklahoma City area has pollen all four seasons of the year, so many allergy sufferers don’t get much of a break,” said Dr. Bret Haymore, board-certified allergist with the Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic.
Haymore recommended that allergy sufferers make an appointment with an allergist who can determine what their allergy triggers are and make a treatment plan to help manage them.
The AAFA began identifying annual Allergy Capitals 20 years ago, and since that first report, pollen counts have worsened. This year’s analysis once again highlights the significant impact that climate change has on public health – specifically for people with pollen allergies. Rising temperatures result in longer growing seasons, leading to higher pollen concentrations in many areas of the country.
“We are experiencing longer and more intense allergy seasons because of climate change. For people with asthma, allergies can trigger an asthma attack,” said Kenneth Mendez, chief executive officer and president of AAFA.
Approximately 81 million Americans have seasonal allergic rhinitis, which is most often caused by pollen allergies. “If we don’t take immediate action on the climate crisis, pollen production will intensify,” Mendez said. “This means more allergy and asthma attacks and additional strain on our health systems.”
The National Climate Assessment from the U.S. Global Change Research Program confirms that climate change is a major threat to public health. Longer and more intense pollen seasons caused by climate change particularly impact people with allergies and asthma.
From 1990-2018 the plant-growing season extended an average of 20 days and produced about 21% more pollen, putting people with pollen allergies at risk of more symptoms for longer periods. Allergies also can trigger asthma episodes or attacks. Around 60% to 80% of the nearly 26 million people in the U.S. with asthma have allergic asthma.
“As pollen counts spike, we often see an increase in emergency room visits for asthma,” Mendez said. “Around 3,600 people per year die from asthma, so it is important to address and manage asthma and allergy triggers where you live.”
Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous populations bear the disproportionate burden of air pollution, asthma, allergies, and climate change.
This is the result of a long history of discriminatory housing and environmental policies in the U.S. that have pushed people of color to live in undesirable neighborhoods with greater environmental and social risks, officials said.
AAFA’s Allergy Capitals report “serves as a national call-to-action on climate change due to its impacts on individual and community health,” said Melanie Carver, chief mission officer of AAFA.
“While individuals can take steps to manage their symptoms, it is imperative for communities to build their climate resiliency, improve their city planning, and take action on health disparities impacting higher risk populations.”
For people who are affected by pollen allergies, options are available to prevent or treat the symptoms. Treatment options include over-the-counter or prescription allergy medicines – which are most effective when started before a person’s allergy season begins.
For more information, visit the OAAC website at www.oklahomaallergy.com to view the addresses for all Oklahoma Allergy and Asthma Clinic locations.