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Grand Rapids Is An Allergy Hotspot

Posted at 9:11 PM, Apr 04, 2013
and last updated 2013-04-05 04:22:24-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. —  It’s that time of year: the snow is melting and seasonal allergies have people sneezing, itching and miserable.

If you suffer from seasonal allergies they may be worse than ever this year.  A new study reveals Grand Rapids is the 17th worst city for seasonal allergies in the nation.  That’s according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Last year, Grand Rapids was ranked 35th.

You can find the full list of 2013 allergy capitalshere.

Tree pollen and mold are what most people are feeling allergy symptoms from in early spring.  Grass will play a role a few months from now.

Researchers say the changing climate and environment are raising pollen counts and making for potentially worse allergy seasons every year.

There are plenty of medications to get rid of your symptoms but there is believed to be a semi ‘cure’ called Immunotherapy.  It involves injections or drops that introduce a little bit of the allergen you’re allergic to.  Eventually it will desensitize your system to those allergens so you can tolerate more exposure.

Simple things like using air conditioning instead of opening windows in your car or house can help ease your symptoms.

The good news is that if you don’t experience allergy symptoms now, you most likely never will.