Achoo! 12 worst cities for allergy sufferers

Allergies are nothing to sneeze at. Each year in the U.S., allergic reactions account for more than 17 million trips to the doctor, 30,000 emergency room visits, and several hundred deaths, according to a new report. And the report suggests things are getting worse, with sensitivity to mold and ragweed on the rise. And while allergies are prevalent across the nation - affecting one in five of us - they pose a bigger problem in some cities more than others.

The report, from Quest Diagnostics, looked at the proportion of citizens showing sensitivity to food, ragweed, mold, dust mites, and cats and dogs in 30 U.S. cities. Keep reading to learn the 12 cities where allergies are most troublesome. Are you living in one of the "dirty dozen?"

12. Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.

Riverside, Calif. is America's eighth best city for job growth, according to research professor Lee McPheters of Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business — Wikimedia Commons

With an allergy index of 659, Riverside-San Bernadino comes in twelfth on the list of cities with bad allergy problems.

11. Los Angeles

Itchy, sneezy, Los Angelinos put the city in 11th place, with an allergy index of 660.

10. Cleveland

Cleveland's allergy index was 662, according to the report.

9. Atlanta

Hotlanta? How about hiveslanta? Georgia's biggest city had an allergy index of 668.

8. Cincinnati

The Bengals may not be the only cats causing allergies in Cincinnati. The city had an allergy index of 670.

7. Chicago

Windy, maybe. But apparently there's not enough of a breeze to blow away allergens. Chicago had an allergy index of 672.

6. Philadelphia

The Phillies may rule baseball, but allergies have a dominant role in Philadelphia. The city had an allergy index of 675.

5. Boston

Residents of Boston seem to be running a perpetual marathon - with allergies. Massachusetts' capital had an allergy index of 682.

4. Washington, D.C.

washington d.c., washington dc, capitol building, spring, generic, 4x3 — istockphoto

Washington may not be the nation's allergy capital, but it finished near the top of cities with allergy problems with an index of 688.

3. Baltimore

Baltimore has a great harbor. It also harbors lots of allergies. The city had an allergy index of 692.

2. Phoenix

Famous for its balmy climate - and infamous for allergies? Phoenix had an allergy index of 695.

1. Dallas

Everything's big in Texas. Even the allergy problem of its biggest city. Dallas had an allergy index of 697.