This northeast PA city is among America's worst for allergies - Pocono Record

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Editor's note: The following story is the first in a series of articles outlining ways locals can save money or access needed resources and help. To suggest a topic for a "Poconos need to know" article, email the editor at afontones@gannett.com.

The Poconos and northeast Pennsylvania are on the map for many reasons: Outdoor adventures, honeymoon resorts... allergies and asthma.

According to the Allergy and Asthma Federation of America (AAFA), Scranton is the third-worst city in America for allergy sufferers. The ranking is an improvement year over year: the Electric City was given the title of worst in the country for allergies in 2022. Allentown was named the third-worst city for asthma sufferers in 2022.

What does this mean for Pocono residents? Well, a lot.

The Pocono Mountains region― which includes portions of Carbon, Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, all of Wayne, Pike and Monroe counties― is located smack dab in between Scranton and Allentown.

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Who is at risk for developing allergies or asthma?

"Unfortunately, allergies and asthma are prevalent in the Poconos, as allergies and asthma are prevalent in the United States." Dr. Robert M. Zemble told reporters.

Zemble is Chief at Lehigh Valley Health Network's Allergy Division.

"The prevalence of asthma in the United States is about 8% of the population (with children having slightly higher numbers than adults)." He continued. "The prevalence of allergies is estimated to be as high as 30% of the population."

According to Zemble, risk factors for asthma are complex, but can include genetic factors, infectious exposures, environmental factors such as pollution or tobacco smoke and allergen sensitization. Family history plays a part as a strong risk factor for the development of nasal allergies, as well as timing and exposure of allergens and treatments.

The Poconos are home to about 75 species of trees, many of which produce the pollen (that yellow powder that covers your car and house) that is responsible for the March-May allergy season.

For many people, allergies translate into asthma. Asthma can also be caused by air pollution.

Monitor air quality on your smartphone

Many smartphone weather applications now include a section for air quality. The iPhone weather app in particular includes an air quality index.

For example, on March 16 in Stroudsburg, the air quality was listed as "moderate". When iPhone users select the air quality section, the app takes them to an additional screen with more information. You can learn more about how that air quality number impacts your health, as well as what the primary air pollutant is that day.

On March 16 in Stroudsburg, the primary pollutant was: "PM₂.₅" or particulate matter under 2.5μm. The app indicated that those particles typically result through wildfires, smokestacks, bacteria and small dust particles; and can enter the body via the bloodstream.

Other third-party apps such as Breezeometer and AirCare also available for iOS and Android via the App Store or Google Play.

More ways to monitor air quality online

You can view air quality in Pennsylvania in real time by going to iqair.com/us/usa/pennsylvania.

The PA Department of Environmental Protection also generates hourly air quality reports online at bit.ly/3Jsdj9x. You can also monitor acid rain, toxic pollutants and more on the state website.

Know pollen counts by checking these sites

You can monitor live pollen counts in Pennsylvania by going to pollen.com/map/pa. You can also enter your zip code on the site for a more detailed pollen forecast, as well as historical reports to monitor how the pollen levels are rising near you.

As of March 17, Stroudsburg was listed as "Medium" alert on the site. The top allergens were juniper, elm and maple. The site predicted that Saturday, March 18's allergy warning would be "medium-high".

You can learn more about pollen types in Pennsylvania, as well as get resources for allergies by heading to the state Department of Environmental Protection Ragweed Pollen page: bit.ly/3YuUkPH.

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Can't afford allergy or asthma medication?

Asthma and allergy medications, like rescue inhalers or emergency allergy injectors (think EpiPens) can save lives ― but they can be expensive, even with insurance. Thankfully, there are ways to save money on those medications.

When it comes to allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, being able to afford emergency medication can mean the difference between life and death.

The EpiPen is intended to automatically inject a dose of epinephrine into a person's thigh to stop an allergic reaction. EpiPens can retail for upwards of $733, while the generic form of epinephrine can cost patients over $370.

The FDA approved the first generic version of epinephrine in 2018. Several epinephrine auto-injector products have been since approved by the FDA to treat anaphylaxis, including generic EpiPen, Adrenaclick and Auvi-Q.

Adrenaclick typically retails for around $144. Auvi-Q's manufacturer Kaléo offers a support program that can lower the cost of the injector to as little as $35 (the medication can cost up to $792).

Asthma rescue inhalers contain albuterol, which is a short-acting bronchodilator. The medication relaxes the muscles in your airways, providing relief from an asthma attack, which can be deadly. It's usually taken with a metered dose inhaler (like Ventolin, ProAir and more), or via nebulizer machine.

Certain asthma rescue inhalers can cost nearly $100 a prescription depending on the brand, with maintenance medications going even higher.

According to AAFA, many pharmaceutical companies offer help to patients whose insurance does not cover necessary medications, or for patients in need of financial help paying for prescriptions.

The AAFA site has a list of useful phone numbers and information here: bit.ly/3YyMDIq.

Programs like GoodRx can also help by allowing you to compare prices and find coupons to show to your pharmacy. The basic service is free, and there is a premium membership available. To learn more, go to goodrx.com or call 855-268-2822.

Nowadays, many daily allergy generic medications like Loratadine (name brand Claritin) or Cetirizine (aka Zyrtec) are available over the counter and at a much more affordable price. In fact, the Food and Drug administration estimates that generic drugs can be 20-70% cheaper than their name-brand counterparts.

Some stores, like Target and CVS, regularly have coupons or sales for their store-brand allergy medications.

Apps like Target Circle often offer in-store and manufacturer coupons for such medications, as well as supplies like eyedrops and more. For example, a manufacturer coupon for $5 off PATADAY Eye Allergy Drops was available in the app for use at the Stroudsburg Target. That coupon was set to expire March 18, but the app adds different deals frequently, so you're likely to find a useful discounts at any point in time.

Download the application via your phone's app store, select "Target Circle offers" from the home screen, and then search "allergies" to see what savings are available at your local Target.

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Tips for allergy and asthma sufferers

According to Dr. Zemble there are a few easy ways to prevent flareups for allergies and asthma.

Know your triggers: Identify what triggers your allergies, and have a plan in place for trigger avoidance and medication usage.

"For example, if your triggers are tree pollens for your nasal allergies, the season is starting. Therefore, it is time to keep your windows shut and air conditioning on to keep out pollen and time to start your allergy medications to prevent flaring." He said.

For those who may be experiencing a northeast Pa. allergy season for the first time, Zemble's guidance is unchanged.

"Whether you are a new resident or a lifelong sufferer, the advice remains the same. Have a plan in place that utilizes environmental control strategies and medications." He said. "And, if the above isn't sufficient, talk to an allergist about possible desensitization to the allergens against which you are allergic."

Ashley Catherine Fontones is managing editor at Pocono Record and Tri-County Independent.