As I lie awake for the second straight night, fighting pressure in my sinuses and the sneezing fits that would rouse me every time sleep began to set in, I started to wonder: Just how bad an allergy city have I moved to?

Well, it just so happens the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America released it's top 100 list just a few weeks ago. St. Louis checks in at #26. Quite frankly, I'm surprised, because I've lived in a couple of places that the list says are worse, but I've never had it so bad.

Of course St. Louis' 26th place finish may have something to do with the toughness of our population. Allergy prevalence and seasonal pollen are only two of the factors. The amount of drugs being taken in a city and the number of allergy doctors make up the rest of the equation.

It could be St. Louisans are more apt to suck it up and cope than run to the pharmacy. That would knock us down the list a bit.

I certainly think the figures are tainted by the doctor and drug thing. I had minimal problems with this in New York, yet NYC is listed number 45. It makes sense, though, because people there pop a pill when the wind changes direction and they've got a medical specialist for everything. Don't let the bravado fool you, they're pansies when it comes to being sick.

But some of the list just doesn't make sense. Lexington, Kentucky and Louisville are 78 miles apart. Yet Lexington is the allergy capital of America and Louisville is down at #21. Does that add up? (By the way, I lived in Louisville, and, again, it's not worse than St. Louis by any stretch!)

In the end, I guess it's good to be where we are. Who wants to be number one on a list like this one anyway? Our chamber of commerce has enough problems. Click here for the full results!