Online Search Habits Reveal When Our Allergies Are Worst

When are our allergies the worst? The Internet holds the answer, new research suggests.

In a study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, researchers found that online searches for specific allergy symptoms peak at different times of the year, which could speak to when we're suffering from them the most. Nasal allergy symptoms, which include runny/itchy nose and congestion, are the most often searched allergy symptoms between March and May.

Specifically, researchers found that online searches for allergy symptoms are highest in the second week of May.

While spring had the most searches for allergy symptoms, fall came in second. Study researcher Dr. Leonard Bielory, M.D., an allergist and board member of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, said this is because weed pollen and grass season occurs in September.

Aside from nasal allergies, the second most commonly searched type of allergy is eye allergies, researchers found.

Got allergies? Some places are worse than others, in terms of triggering symptoms. Check out the ranking of the "allergy capitals" from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America:

• #20. Youngstown, Ohio

  Rank Last Year: #48 Youngstown was worse than average on all three measures and had a total score of 76.41.

• #19: Tulsa, Oklahoma

  Rank Last Year: #10 Tulsa, at 76.90, has a worse than average pollen content and medicine use, but a better than average number of local allergists.

• #18. Grand Rapids, Michigan

  Rank Last Year: #37 Grand Rapids has an average number of allergists available and average medicine use, but worse than average pollen count and a total score of 76.99.

• #17: Birmingham, Alabama

  Rank Last Year: #13 With an average pollen count, worse than average medicine use and a better than average number of allergists, Birmingham clocked in at 78.20.

• #16: Little Rock, Arkansas

  Rank Last Year: #19 Little Rock's total score of 78.59 reflects a worse than average pollen count and medicine use, but the city has a better than average number of local allergists.

• #15: San Antonio, Texas

  Rank Last Year: #15 San Antonio measures similarly to Little Rock, with a slightly higher total score of 79.90.

• #14. Rochester, New York

  Rank Last Year: #49 With a worse than average pollen count, average medicine use and a better than average number of allergists, Rochester scores 80.51.

• #13. New Orleans, Louisiana

  Rank Last Year: #28 The home of Mardi Gras has worse than average medicine use and pollen, but a higher number of allergists than the average, with a total score of 80.69.

• #12. Buffalo, New York

  Rank Last Year: #36 Buffalo measures similarly to New Orleans, with a slightly higher total score of 82.12.

• #11: Chattanooga, Tennessee

  Rank Last Year: #11 Chattanooga, at 87.26, also has worse than average pollen and medicine use but better than average allergists.

• #10. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

  Rank Last Year: #23 So does Baton Rouge, with a slightly higher score of 87.54.

• #9: Madison, Wisconsin

  Rank Last Year: #8 Madison, too, scores worse than average on pollen count and medicine use but better than average for local allergists, totaling 87.66.

• #8: Memphis, Tennessee

  Rank Last Year: #12 Memphis earned a total score of 88.05 with worse than average pollen and medicine use and an average number of allergists.

• #7: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

  Rank Last Year: #5 Coming in at 88.80, Oklahoma City has worse than average medicine use and pollen, but a better than average amount of allergists.

• #6: Dayton, Ohio

  Rank Last Year: #2 Dayton scored worse than average on all measures, with a total of 89.18.

• #5: McAllen, Texas

  Rank Last Year: #3 McAllen also scored worse than average on all three criteria, for a total of 94.15.

• #4: Jackson, Mississippi

  Rank Last Year: #4 With an average pollen score, worse than average medicine use and a better than average number of board-certified allergists, Jackson comes in at 96.09.

• #3: Knoxville, Tennessee

  Rank Last Year: #1 Knoxville has worse than average medicine use and pollen, but scored better than average for number of allergists for a total of 98.79.

• #2: Wichita, Kansas

  Rank Last Year: #7 The runner up for the worst place to live with fall allergies scored a 99.85 for worse than average pollen and medicine use and an average number of allergists nearby.

• #1: Louisville, Kentucky

  Rank Last Year: #6 Louisville takes the cake with a perfect 100 for worse than average pollen and medicine use. It did come in above average, however, in terms of the number of board-certified allergists per 10,000 patients.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/11/online-search-allergies-symptoms-google-internet_n_2101573.html

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