From Louisville to Los Angeles, allergies have a grip on American cities, according to a new ranking of cities by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). The Allergy Capitals(TM), identified & ranked based on the impact that key environmental & medical factors have on the severity of allergies in each market, are considered to be the American cities that are most severe for people with allergies. The Foundation announced the Allergy Capitals(TM) today as part of the organization's nationwide Allergy Action Plan to help consumers recognize, prevent & safely treat allergy symptoms.

"Living in or traveling to an Allergy Capital(TM) should be a reminder to allergy sufferers to control allergy symptoms by planning ahead," says Derek Johnson, MD, an allergist at Temple University Medical Center & a medical advisor to AAFA. "Having a personal Allergy Action Plan can help allergy sufferers prevent symptoms from flaring up & understand how to treat symptoms when necessary.".

"We hope the Allergy Capital(TM) rankings will keep allergy sufferers alert, because allergies do not end when spring comes to a close," continues Dr. Johnson. "As summer begins, grass pollens are active. Later in the summer, weed pollens take over & cause allergy symptoms as fall begins. It's important to remember to plan ahead -- & get a jump on allergy symptoms before they start."

More About Allergy Capitals The Allergy Capitals(TM) ranking is part of the Foundation's Allergy Action Plan, a multi-year -- & multi-season -- campaign to help consumers recognize, prevent & safely treat allergy symptoms. The Allergy Capitals(TM) were identified & ranked based on the impact that the following key environmental & medical factors have on the severity of allergies in each market:

• Average recorded pollen levels over the last 7 years

• Length of the peak season for the most offensive pollen types

• Number of antihistamine prescriptions written per capita in the last year

• Number of board certified allergists per capita

Each factor was weighted, in consultation with medical & research experts, to reflect its relative importance as an indicator of allergy severity. The weighted factors were then tallied to assign a total score that determined the ranking as an Allergy Capital(TM).