For asthma/allergy sufferers, the RGV could be a lot better

Have you been sneezing a lot lately? Short of breath? Runny, itchy eyes and nose? Back of your throat itches like a mother and/or father? You are cranky and irritable because your nose is always running and you ran out of antihistamines this morning? Besides, they don’t even work well any more because if you take them, you can’t sleep. Do your symptoms seem worse this year? Are your sinuses congested? Are you hard-pressed to find a good allergist physician who can do anything to alleviate your symptoms?

Are you sick of answering questions? Well, there’s good reason you’re running into all that bad luck, because based annual reports published by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, which measures pollen counts across the U.S. every spring, we’re living in one of the worst spots in the U.S. when it comes to seasonal allergies.

The bad news is, they’re hitting earlier this year, thanks in large part, would be my guess, the unusually warm late fall and early winter we’ve had so far.

The headlines tied to these reports from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation usually say “McAllen,” but they’re based on the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan statistical area, which includes all of Hidalgo County.

We are frequently ranked as a top U.S. city (area) for allergies, often #1 for spring or fall allergy seasons, due to high pollen counts (especially from trees like cedar, cottonwood, elm, pecan), low specialist availability, although that’s improving most years (the number of docs).

Why McAllen?

High Pollen Load: Located in the RGV, (Hidalgo County) experiences intense pollen from numerous trees and plants, with mountain cedar (juniper) being a major culprit, especially during cooler months. Dry Climate: A lack of significant rainfall exacerbates the pollen problem by preventing pollen from being washed out of the air.

Limited Specialists: A lower number of board-certified allergists compared to the population size adds to the challenge for residents seeking expert care.

High Medication Use: The severe symptoms lead to high usage of over-the-counter allergy medications, which is a factor in the rankings.

In essence, McAllen’s combination of prolific pollen sources, dry conditions, and limited allergy specialists consistently places it at or near the top of national allergy challenge lists.

So, if you’re feeling as miserable as I am this morning, and it’s not even spring, at least know that you’re not alone.

Small comfort.

Ah-choo.