Knowing and Avoiding Your Allergies Before Moving to the South

Many baby boomers are now facing retirement and are relocating to Florida and other southern states for a piece of long-deserved paradise and ideal living. Many young people are opting for the southern lifestyle as well, looking to raise a family in a slower-paced society, with less pollution, crime and strife in general.

While parts of the south do offer these advantages, there are also other factors to consider if you are an environmentally challenged individual. Make sure your system can tolerate your new environment!

Many people have no clue as to what lay beyond the southern state line, thinking only of a better life, or a new adventure, not bothering to ponder some basic, yet very big factors that may affect their lifestyle if they are allergic to the outdoors.

First and foremost, one needs to find out what kind of grass and trees are abundant in the state or area they are moving too. Second, the individual and other family members should be allergy tested for the types of environmental irritants that are abundant in their desired state.

Before I moved to Florida, I had no idea I was highly allergic to oak trees. I spent one hellish year of constantly being itchy from head to toe before I realized the Ocala National Forest and remaining central Florida environment, which is loaded with oak trees, was the culprit behind my misery.

The area I used to live is one of the last remaining old Florida towns, and oak trees where everywhere, Spanish moss dripping like spider webs. With all I had endured, surprisingly I have a great respect for these massive trees, regardless of my allergy threshold when in abundance. Some trees have survived around Florida for over one hundred years. Definitely a hearty species.

As beautiful as Florida's majestic oak trees are, one would hate to admit that these noble trees are torturers to the allergic person. When I moved to the ocean area, on the Atlantic side, my allergies subsided considerably, as far as itching went. During the time I lived central, I had to continue on allergy shots to keep my immune system stable, but I still suffered. Allergy shots are not fun.

Some people can be so allergic, that they are prisoners of their own home, without even realizing that it is their environment that is making them ill. In turn, they can become more allergic to previously non-irritating things, such as old furniture made of wood, or even a beloved family pet. Foods can interact with your sense of well-being when irritated. They call it a cross-over allergen, an example is some people who become allergic to watermelon because of a certain allergic reaction to ragweed.

I recommend spending a long while in your area of interest before you make a permanent move. See if you can take an extended vacation for a few weeks. If you are highly allergic, to the point of severe symptoms that will interfere with your quality of life, you will know right away, and thus you may want to rethink the location.