AAFA Report the 2015 Worst Cities for Allergies

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2015 worst cities for allergies has been reported. 

The data measured and compared each season includes:

• Pollen scores (airborne grass/tree/weed
• pollen and mold spores)*
• Number of allergy medications used per patient
• Number of allergy specialists per patient

The value of compiling this list is to help guide a pollen sufferer to local, geographical areas that may provoke and worsen their seasonal symptoms, which impacts their quality of life. Immediate personalized treatments can include prescription medication combinations, mono-therapies, or long-term treatments.

Looks like Allergena
will be Selling a lot of
Zone 2 Soon!

For a complete list of the 2015 Worst Cities for Allergies View this PDF

Beginning with Number 1
         Jackson, Mississippi, scored 100/100, 
2. Louisville, Kentucky, scored 98.34/100
3. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, scored 95.64/100
4. Memphis, Tennessee, scored 94.64/100,
5. Knoxville, Tennessee, scored 94.51/100,
6. McAllen, Texas, scored 89.56/100,
7. Wichita, Kansas, scored 86.43/100
8. Dayton, Ohio, scored 86.15/100,
9. Providence, Rhode Island, scored 86.06/100,
10. Richmond, Virginia, scored 85.79/100,
11. Little Rock, Arkansas, scored 85.46/100,
12. Tulsa, Oklahoma, scored 84.59/100
13. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, scored 84.3/100
14. Chattanooga, Tennessee, scored 83.91/100
15. New Orleans, Louisiana, scored 82.04/100,
16. Columbia, South Carolina, scored 81.25/100
17. Birmingham, Alabama, scored 80.29/100,
18. San Antonio, Texas, scored 79.17/100
19. Dallas, Texas, scored 79/100
20. Syracuse, New York, scored 78.97/100

Here are a few Survival Tips:

1. Learn your allergies: Which trees, weeds and grass pollen are you allergic to.
2. Wear cotton: Synthetics cause static and pollen to stick to your clothing
3. Exercise early, or exercise late: Pollen counts are lowest before dawn and in the early evening.
4. Immunotherapy: Drops are easy on your body and the effects are long lasting.
5. Keep your home clean. There’s a reason for the term “spring cleaning.”
6. Eat the right foods. Certain foods naturally have ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties that can help combat allergies. Munch on apples, broccoli and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids (certain fish, like salmon, and nuts), or consider adding more garlic and the spice turmeric to your cooking. Yogurt can also help by improving digestion and making your immune system more effective.

Information gathered in part from The Weather Channel

How do you know if your pet has allergies?

Have you ever considered your furry family member may have Pet Allergies?

You probably think it's funny or cute when your pets sneeze. Is it funny and cute when you sneeze? Especially not if you are sneezing because of allergies.

Allergies experienced by our pets are different from those we experience. Pet Allergies symptoms are often:

• Watery Eyes
• Sneezing
• Scratching leading welts, open sores, and loss of hair.
• Dogs can also get ear infections

Pet allergies can come from:

Atopy: also known as seasonal pollen allergies Symptoms:

• Chewing at the feet
• Constant licking of the flank (side) and groin area
• Rubbing of the face
• Inflamed ears or recurrent ear infections
• Recurrent hot spots in dogs and pinpoint facial scabbing in cats
• Asthma-like wheezing and respiratory problems (more likely in cats)

Contact Dermatitis: allergies to carpet, cleansers or plastic

• Red itchy bumps or blisters on sparsely-haired areas of the skin and those exposed to the allergen such as the belly, feet, or muzzle
• Intense scratching
• Hair loss (in chronic conditions)

Food Allergies: often when experiencing other kinds of allergic reactions you animals will have an allergic reaction to common food.

• Itching, especially face, feet, trunk, limbs and anal area
• Ear problems, often yeast-related
• Skin infections that respond to antibiotics, but then recur as soon as the antibiotic therapy ceases

True Food Allergies are marked in dogs by increased bowel movements and regularly soft stool. Be cautious of food intolerance which causes diarrhea and vomiting.

Allergena for you Pet's Relief

Relief with the Netty Pot

Have you thought about using a Neti Pot?

You've probably heard stories about people finding their nasal relief miracle in a Neti Pot! Personally, I think it sounds like water boarding yourself...but could so many people be wrong?

The word "neti" is from the ancient Sanskrit from India. It literally traslates to nasal cleansing. The equipment to perform this technique has evolved over time with materials and production technology. 

Use of the Neti Pot is for the most part safe. 

About 10% of Neti pot users report discomfort or headaches after use. There have also been stories of contaminated water placing dangerous micro bacteria into your soft nasal passages causing severe illness. This is not the norm, however. Aside from the cleanliness of most water available, it is recommended to use distilled, sterile or previously boiled water. 

Frequent use of a Neti Pot can promote good sinus and nasal health if you have chronic:

• Sinusitis
• Facial pain
• Headache
• Halitosis
• Cough
• Anterior rhinorrhea (watery discharge)
• Nasal congestion

For a complete, simple explanation of Neti Pot use watch this:

These are the recommended steps:

1. Mix about 16 ounces (1 pint) of lukewarm water (distilled, sterile, or previously boiled) with 1 teaspoon of salt. 
2. To make the mixture gentler, add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to buffer the solution.
3. Highly recommended to use distilled, sterile, or previously boiled water to make up the irrigation solution.
4. Once you've filled the Neti pot, tilt your head over the sink at about a 45-degree angle. 
5. Place the spout into your top nostril, and gently pour the saline solution into that nostril.
6. The fluid will flow through your nasal cavity and out the other nostril.
7. Liquid that begins to run down your throat, simply spit into the sink.
8. Blow your nose to get rid of any remaining liquid.
9. Refill the Neti Pot and repeat the process on the other side. 
10. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the irrigation device after each use and leave open to air dry.