Many Americans may not be aware of fall allergies, but spring is not the only time you can have a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing and/or congestion from upper respiratory allergies. In fact, the fall brings new allergy triggers that are not prevalent in the spring, such as ragweed.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has released its 2008 Fall Allergy Capitals ranking, The annual research project ranks the fall’s 100 most challenging cities to live for people with seasonal allergies. The Fall Allergy Capitals research also shows that overall pollen concentrations have increased in the top allergy cities. Outdoor allergy triggers can make fall a very difficult time for the more than 35 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies. No matter where a city ranks on the list of Fall Allergy Capitals, it’s important for people to know if their hometown is included.

The top five cities are:

1) Greensboro, NC

2) Greenville, SC

3) Little Rock, AR

4)Raleigh-Durham, NC

5) Jackson, MS

"Whether a city is ranked number 100 on the Allergy Capitals list or number 1, it’s essential for allergy sufferers to take the appropriate steps to manage their allergies," says Mike Tringale, Director of External Affairs at AAFA. "Allergy sufferers should know what allergens trigger their symptoms and manage them by taking a medication that can alleviate both outdoor and indoor allergies."

In the autumn, outdoor allergy triggers peak. People may continue to suffer from indoor allergies caused by common allergy triggers like pet dander and dust mites. In addition, ragweed and pollen can travel indoors through open windows and doors. Indoor and outdoor allergy triggers can be a significant challenge for people year round.

Danica Schulte, M.D., of Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, has seen many allergy sufferers head indoors each fall in an attempt to escape their worst allergy triggers. "Many patients come to me because they’re tired of missing