Toughest Cities for Those with Asthma Revealed

Air is not created equal. For people with asthma or severe allergies, certain cities pose less of a breathing hazard than others. While this group of sufferers may have their own list of preferred places to live and visit, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) set out to discover which cities actually were the worst offenders.

Looking at factors such as air quality, public smoking laws, and pollen counts, the AAFA ranked 100 U.S. cities according to the comfort level of a resident with asthma. The top 10 worst cities for asthmatics are:

1. St. Louis
2. Milwaukee
3. Birmingham, Alabama
4. Chattanooga
5. Charlotte
6. Memphis
7. Knoxville
8. McAllen, Texas
9. Atlanta
10. Little Rock, Arkansas

Cities found to be the least challenging for those with asthma were:

1. Cape Coral, Florida
2. Seattle
3. Minneapolis
4. Colorado Springs
5. Portland, Oregon
6. Palm Bay, Florida
7. Daytona Beach
8. San Francisco
9. Portland, Maine
10. Boise City, Idaho

So, what can you do if you live in a city that is not asthma-friendly? Work with your doctor to create an asthma action plan. Take any necessary medications and follow other guidelines outlined by your doctor. Also, if your city does not have a ban on public smoking, get involved and encourage local leaders to take an important step in cleaning your city’s air.