Ashland, Bend, Eugene, Climate, Allergies, Pollution, Migraines, and Newbies (Portland: maintenance, live)

[CCCVDUR]

What's the best place for newbies to Oregon who have significant, genetic problems with the typical range of commonly co-existing complaints - allergies, air pollution sensitivity, migraines, fibromyalgia, asthma, etc.

There's discussion of this on the Eugene forum, and I've met people w/ very similar health concerns - even affecting their economic status.

Apparently, Eugene and Corvallis don't work for everyone. How about Ashland-Medford, Grants Pass, and Bend?

How does the Willamette Valley - as flat and wet as it is with no wind - compare to conditions in the hills around Portland or even Seattle?

[Bendite]

Here in Bend, people with allergies often react to the pollen from the juniper trees, particularly in spring. While they have cut down on it considerably, outlying areas are still permitted to burn vegetation on certain days in spring and fall, so there can be smoke. Smoke is also a consideration in the valley (including around Eugene) where farmers still burn fields. Practically anywhere in Oregon you could be subjected to wildfire smoke in the summer and fall. While our air in Bend is usually very clean, every so often we have an inversion and air gets trapped around us and can get yucky - maybe a couple of times a year and usually in winter.

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

In general, western Oregon is often called "The Allergy Capital of North America" due to the prevalence of common allergens: molds and mildews, grass seed pollen, pine pollen, etc. But it depends on what your specific triggers are. Some allergy-sensitive people have few problems in Oregon, or more commonly, a rather short period of discomfort. The I-5 corridor has the worst air pollution numbers. The worst of the worst is the Rogue River airshed (including Ashland) because of the frequent air inversions that trap pollution at low levels to the ground (read more about it here: Oregon DEQ: Air Quality maintenance area Medford Ashland)

Generally speaking, people with migraines and auto-immune disorders feel more comfortable in continental climates where high-pressure cells are more common and more stable (there is a lot of low pressure in Oregon from Oct. to May). Place like Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico or Arizona (not Tucson or Phoenix, though) would have climates more conducive to comfort for such persons.

[delta07]

Originally Posted by Brenda-by-the-sea

Generally speaking, people with migraines and auto-immune disorders feel more comfortable in continental climates where high-pressure cells are more common and more stable (there is a lot of low pressure in Oregon from Oct. to May). Place like Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico or Arizona (not Tucson or Phoenix, though) would have climates more conducive to comfort for such persons.

I'm not so sure about this. I always thought the frequent thunderstorms that came through Colorado were pretty hard on my migraines. Having lived in both Colorado and Oregon, I don't think my migraines have been any better/worse in one place than the other.

[CCCVDUR]

Originally Posted by delta07

I'm not so sure about this. I always thought the frequent thunderstorms that came through Colorado were pretty hard on my migraines. Having lived in both Colorado and Oregon, I don't think my migraines have been any better/worse in one place than the other.

The thunderstorms are in the four corners states, due to the Monsoons from late June to August. They do not migrate into Oregon and California (except SE California). I do not like the monsoons, and prefer the endless summers on the West Coast with no rain from June to September.

[delta07]

Originally Posted by CCCVDUR

The thunderstorms are in the four corners states, due to the Monsoons from late June to August. They do not migrate into Oregon and California (except SE California). I do not like the monsoons, and prefer the endless summers on the West Coast with no rain from June to September.

Very true, which is why I didn't understand the previous post stating that migraine sufferers might be better off in those states! I do know that when the monsoons hit in Colorado, my headaches seemed to occur more often.