New study reveals top ten best/worst allergy cities in America
KENILWORTH, N.J., April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The heart of America
is also the heart of allergy country, according to a new study that recently
determined the top 10 best and worst cities to live in with indoor and outdoor
allergies. Of the estimated 50 million Americans(1) who suffer from
allergies, many are convinced that their city is the worst place to live with
this condition.
If you ever wondered which city truly IS the worst place to live with
allergies, a new study entitled the "Top 10 Best/Worst Places to Live with
Allergies," conducted by Bert Sperling, CEO of Sperling's BestPlaces, revealed
that Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas, is the worst U.S. city to live in if you
have allergies. On the other hand, Grand Rapids, Michigan ranks highest on
the best allergy cities list because its breezy lakeshore doesn't give
allergens, such as pollen and mold, time to settle in.
"A key finding of this study is that there is no geographic center for
allergies," said Bert Sperling, study investigator and author of the new book
"Cities Ranked and Rated". "Though certain cities have higher concentrations
of allergens than others, no part of the country is immune to their effects."
If you are prone to sneezing, itchy eyes, runny noses, and other indoor
and outdoor allergy symptoms, beware of the other nine cities that rank worst
for allergies: Louisville, KY (2); Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (3);
Tulsa, OK (4); Atlanta, GA (5); Austin-San Marcos, TX (6); St. Louis, MO (7);
Sacramento, CA (8); Orlando, FL (9); and Indianapolis, IN (10).
The good news for allergy sufferers living in or traveling to one of the
following cities, is that you may get a vacation from your symptoms. The best
cities for allergy sufferers are: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (2); Seattle, WA (3);
San Francisco, CA (4); Minneapolis, MN (5); Chicago, IL (6); Syracuse, NY (7);
Salt Lake City, UT (8); Los Angeles, CA (9); and Denver, CO (10).
"Allergy sufferers who live in or travel to the top worst cities don't
need to suffer unnecessarily. Both indoor and outdoor allergens can trigger
symptoms, but there are prescription medications available to manage these
symptoms," said Matthew Clarke, MD, family practitioner, MDMD Inc. "Allergy
sufferers need to get a proper diagnosis from a physician as symptoms occur.
Their physician can prescribe medications, such as CLARINEX(R)
(desloratadine), that is proven effective in treating indoor and outdoor
allergy symptoms and offering 24-hour relief without causing drowsiness."
CLARINEX(R) is the only, once-daily, nonsedating prescription
antihistamine proven effective for 24-hour relief in treating the symptoms of
allergies caused by indoor and outdoor allergens in adults and children 12
years of age and older.
Experts agree that there are many precautions allergy sufferers can take
to manage their symptoms. Dr. Clarke offers these tips to help allergy
sufferers make the most of spring:
* See your doctor: It's not too late to find relief, even if allergy
symptoms are full blown.
* Be prepared: Have medication on hand, such as CLARINEX(R) Tablets 5 mg,
a once-daily, nonsedating prescription antihistamine for the treatment
of outdoor allergies caused by pollen from grass and ragweed, and
indoor allergies caused by dust mites and molds. CLARINEX(R) also is
proven effective for the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria
(CIU), or hives of unknown cause.
* Check the forecast: Avoid going outdoors when pollen counts are high.
Also, heavy rains wash pollen from the air, making post-shower outings
more comfortable. Beware of dry, windy days when pollen can be
particularly intense.
* Find the right time: Peak pollen production occurs between 5 a.m. and
10 a.m., so try to plan outdoor activities for other times of the day.
* Familiarize yourself with the allergens that most affect you: When you
understand what triggers your allergy symptoms, you can make an extra
effort to avoid them. If grass pollen is one of your triggers, wear a
mask when mowing the lawn or avoid mowing altogether.
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
(AAAAI), allergic diseases are the sixth leading cause of chronic disease in
the United States(1). Outdoor and indoor allergies affect approximately 20
percent of the U.S. population.
About the study
The "Top 10 Best/Worst Places to Live with Allergies" study, conducted by
Sperling's BestPlaces, in partnership with Schering-Plough Corporation,
identified the 100 largest metropolitan areas, with a combined population of
nearly 180 million residents. (Metropolitan areas are defined by the U.S.
Census Bureau as a central city and including its surrounding counties.)
Counts of mold spores and pollens, including trees, weeds, and grass, from
SDI/Multidata and the National Allergy Bureau of the American AAAAI, were
analyzed each week of the years 2002, 2001, 2000, and 1999.
Severity of effect was based on the mean pollen and mold spore levels for
each year, and the number of weeks with severe or critical pollen and mold
spore levels. Then, points were assigned for each year on a 1-100 point
scale, where 100 represented the greatest discomfort from allergens. The
points were totaled for each metro area, and rankings were sorted in order to
find the top 10 best and worst cities for allergies.
About Sperling's BestPlaces
For nearly 20 years, Bert Sperling has been helping people find their own
"Best Place." As the foremost creator of these studies, his work appears in
national media nearly every month, and he recently appeared on the Today show
to introduce his new book, "Cities Ranked and Rated." His firm, "Sperling's
BestPlaces" puts facts about cities and living in the hands of the public, so
they can make better decisions about best places to live, work, retire, play,
or relocate More information is available at http://www.bestplaces.net.
About CLARINEX(R) (desloratadine)
CLARINEX(R) is the only nonsedating, prescription antihistamine approved
for the treatment of indoor and outdoor allergies and CIU in adults and
children 12 years of age and older. The efficacy and safety of CLARINEX(R) in
treating indoor and outdoor allergies has been established in four double-
blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies involving more than 2,300
patients with seasonal allergies. CLARINEX(R) was also studied in two double-
blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies involving more than 1,300
patients with indoor allergies. A single 5-mg dose of CLARINEX(R) Tablets
taken once daily provides 24-hour nonsedating relief from nasal and non-nasal
symptoms of indoor and outdoor allergies. The approval for CLARINEX(R) in CIU,
or hives of unknown cause, is based on two double-blind, randomized, placebo-
controlled studies involving more than 400 patients. CLARINEX(R)
(desloratadine) can be used safely to treat outdoor allergies in adults with
concomitant mild-to-moderate asthma.
The most common side effects in allergic rhinitis (indoor and outdoor
allergies) were sore throat, dry mouth, and fatigue, with an incidence rate
similar to placebo. In CIU studies, the most common side effects were
headache, nausea, and fatigue.
Please click here for full Prescribing Information:
http://www.spfiles.com/piclarinex.pdf.
Disclosure Notice: This press release may contain "forward-looking
statements" about Schering-Plough's products, the allergy market and other
matters. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations or forecasts of
future events. Actual results may differ materially from Schering-Plough's
forward-looking statements. Schering-Plough does not assume the obligation to
update any forward-looking statement. For further details and a discussion of
risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements, see
Schering-Plough's past and future Securities and Exchange Commission filings,
including Schering-Plough's 2003 10-K.
About Schering-Plough Corporation
Schering-Plough Corporation is a research-based company engaged in the
discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of pharmaceutical
products worldwide.
References:
1. The Allergy Report. Overview of Allergic Diseases: Diagnosis,
Management, and Barriers to Care. Volume One.
SOURCE Schering-Plough Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.schering-plough.com
http://www.spfiles.com/piclarinex.pdf
http://www.bestplaces.net
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