Best place to live in US for allergy sufferer?

[Crossbow]

Originally Posted by hottoddy

I've always heard one of the best is to live near the ocean (like within a mile). The desert also works for some.

I was in Santa Barbara last year, within about 1/4 mile of the ocean, and the friend I was with had the worst allergy attack of her life. She got hives for the first time. She thinks it was the mold. We can't be sure that's what she's allergic to, since she hasn't been to an allergist, but she thinks it's mold, and the house we were in had previously had some mold problems.

[hottoddy]

Funny you should mention that. I went to school in Santa Barbara and had some bad allergies in the summer. That area would have "sundowner" (offshore) winds that whipped up in the evenings and brought every airborn allergen whipping into town. The inland chaparral vegetation can be brutal when it dries to a crisp in the summer. The rest of the year was fine.

I believe the ocean theory takes into account the heavy, moist air - and general on-shore flow. All of which should control allergens to some degree.

[SMB2]

I moved from the east coast to California, a mile from the ocean, and my allergies here are worse than ever.

[zimnah]

I've lived in Hawaii, California, Connecticut, New York, and now Pennsylvania. Ive spent summers in Colorado. If it wasn't for the nature of my husband's work, we would move to Colorado in a heartbeat. Dry is good for allergies. Also, unless specifically allergic to pines or evergreens, you may do the best in a higher elevation with mostly evergreens. They tend to have a lot less pollen, and not as much gunk in the air. Also, higher elevations have (supposedly) a higher content of oxygen in the air, and the air just FEELS lighter and easier to breathe. It's also cooler. My allergies and asthma are such that summers here in the East kill me. I hide indoors with air conditioning on full and just don't go outside. Check with an allergist or immunologist as to your specific allergies, and go from there.
Good luck!

[desertdweller]

I have lived in Oregon and Washington State for the past 20 years and have suffered with terrible allergies and eventually developed asthma. I am allergic to many things, but mostly grasses, mold, and pollen.
I moved to the California high desert last June and the difference has been amazing! I have not had to use Beconase for the first time in 15 years, or my inhaler since I've moved. The desert did get a lot of unusual rain this year, so I have a little bit of allergies with the wildflowers blooming this last month. I have popped a Clairiten a couple times, but nothing even close to what I'm used to.
A move worked for me. Just my 2 cents........