Prepare for sniffles and sneezes — fall allergies are here.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America listed Baton Rouge as the 7th worst city for fall allergies in its Fall Allergy Capitals report. Down from last year’s rank of 10th, Baton Rouge received a worse-than-average ranking for both pollen levels and available allergy medications.
The report uses pollen levels, use of over-the-counter and prescription allergy medication and the number of Board Certified allergists to determine the most challenging places to live for fall allergies in the United States.
Timothy Honigman, staff physician at the Student Health Center, said there are several factors contributing to fall allergy problems in Baton Rouge.
First, Honigman said, Baton Rouge’s high level of industry pollution plays a part in allergy issues.
“[Industry] leads to poor air quality, many times, from pollution that industries emit in the air,” Honigman said.
Baton Rouge isn’t the only Louisiana city featured on the report. New Orleans was ranked the 11th worst city on the list. Honigman said New Orleans received a better ranking than Baton Rouge because it has less green space.
Louisiana’s subtropical climate and high humidity makes it a worse place for fall allergies than colder climates, according to Honigman.
“Without harsh winters, many things bloom year round and we don’t really have cold winters that cause a lot of plants to die,” Honigman said.
He said that ragweed, a plant that blooms around this time of year, releases spores that make it the biggest allergen in the Baton Rouge area.
Honigman suggested that if symptoms such as sneezing, itchy throat or persistent congestion appear, to start with an over-the-counter medicine such as Claritin or Allegra.
If symptoms continue or get worse, such as fever or a sign of infection, Honigman said to call the Student Health Center and make an appointment.
“I would have thought we were higher than number seven.”