By: Matthew Strickland
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV)- According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), Fayetteville is ranked in the top 10 for worst cities with seasonal allergies.
This report by the AAFA looked at many factors such as trees, grass, and weed pollen. Also, the number of board-certified allergists, and over-the-counter allergy medicine used in cities all across America.
The study placed Fayetteville at number 10 out of 100 cities with the worst seasonal allergies. Fayetteville has average pollen count and board-certified allergists making it a decent place to live for people with seasonal allergies. An above-average and over-the-counter allergy medicine use is where the city falls short, lowering its ranking.
This higher number of allergy medicine use can be determined in many ways, from the increase of the number of people moving here to the increase of pollen. It is causing more people to get allergies, leading to more need of medicine use.
Additionally, pollen levels all across the United States have been at a steady increase for many years. Leading to more and more seasonal allergies per year. Haley Endacott, nurse practitioner at ENT and Allergy Center, said, “Since 1990, pollen seasons have 21% more pollen.”
The increase of pollen is due to climate change, since there is an increase of carbon dioxide in the air. This makes allergy seasons longer and much harsher than they have been in previous years, leading to more allergic reactions and asthma attacks due to long exposures of pollen.
“Due to climate change, there is also an increase of carbon dioxide in the air, causing trees to make more pollen.” said Endacott.
Trees have been the main source of pollen for many years due to urban developers choosing to use wind-pollinating trees instead of fruit trees. Both tree types produce pollen but have different ways of transporting pollen, as wind-pollinating trees use the wind, and fruit trees use bugs and insects to pollinate other trees. The reason for using wind-pollinating trees in cities/urban areas is they do not produce fruits, nuts, or pods, leading to less insects unlike fruit trees.
Fayetteville is an urban area with many trees and many people living in this area. People coming from different climates all across America to live here. As people are not accustomed to the amount of pollen exposure. Helping lead to more use of allergy medicine or seeing allergy doctors.
Pollen increasing is going to lead to an increase in medicine use, depending on the area. Fayetteville has more people using and in need of allergy medicine, as more and more people are getting bad allergies in the area.
“OTC medication use per 10,000 allergy patients -Fayetteville has above average OTC medication use per capita,” said Endacott
While allergies in Fayetteville may be harsh for many people, there are many allergists and asthma doctors in the area. Access to a doctor, or medical emergency due to allergies or asthma is something anyone with allergic reactions and asthma does not need to worry about.