MILLIONS of Americans suffer from seasonal allergies – and there are some hotspots sufferers should avoid.

Most allergies are driven by pollen in the air, with a whopping 24million people in the US suffering from hayfever – a condition that causes a runny nose, congestion, sneezing and itching.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has released its 2022 list of so-called "allergy capitals" in the US – with several cities in California coming out as the best places to live.

The annual list is based on pollen data, the use of over-the-counter allergy medication and the number of allergists or immunologists in each city.

For the second year in a row, Scranton in Pennsylvania takes the top spot for the worst place to live for a seasonal allergy sufferer.

Wichita in Kansas follows in second place, with McAllen in Texas taking the third worst spot.

Meanwhile, Seattle in Washington and Durham in South Carolina are the best places to live if you experience seasonal allergies.

Kenneth Mendez, president of the AAFA said seasonal allergies can trigger an asthma attack – and emergency room visits spike each pollen season.

Mendez said: "We see spikes in emergency room visits that coincide
with spikes in pollen seasons.

"Around 3,600 people per year die from asthma, so it is important to address and manage asthma and allergy triggers where you live."

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Here are the best places in the US for seasonal allergy sufferers:

1. Fresno, California
2. Phoenix, Arizona
3. Provo, Utah
4. Denver, Colorado
5. Sacramento, California
6. Portland, Oregon
7. San Jose, California
8. San Francisco, California
9. Durham, North Carolina
10. Seattle, Washington

Here are the worst cities for allergy sufferers in the US:

1. Scranton, Pennsylvania
2. Wichita, Kansas
3. McAllen, Texas
4. Richmond, Virginia
5. San Antonio, Texas
6. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
7. Hartford, Connecticut
8. Buffalo, New York
9. New Haven, Connecticut
10. Albany, New York

AAFA started the annual list of "allergy capitals" back in 2003 – and said seasonal allergies have worsened in the last 20 years due to warmer temperatures.

Mendez said: "If we don’t slow down the warming temperatures, pollen production will only intensify."

The foundation recommends people with seasonal allergies keep the windows closed during pollen season, use HEPA filters on their air conditioning systems, take showers before bed and wear masks and hair coverings when outside.

Dr John James, a medical specialist and spokesman for AAFA, said: "Schedule an appointment with your allergist to work on a treatment plan together after reviewing your symptoms and considering allergy testing.

"These measures will help identify specific therapies to help reduce allergy symptoms and to improve your quality of life.

"There are many options available, including environmental controls and medical treatments, to treat pollen allergies.”

In other health news, here are ten houseplants to help purify the air and remove toxins from your home.

Here are ten ways to tell if your child’s skin rash is an allergic reaction.

And one woman said she knows how to reduce allergy congestion at night and improve your quality of sleep.

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