An asthma attack is terrifying not only for the sufferer, but also for those around them. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, he has asthma in more than 25 million people in the United States, and10 Americans die from asthma every day.. live.
Your best chance of surviving and avoiding attacks may lie in your geographic location. AAFA has identified the worst cities for asthma sufferers. The Asthma Capitals Report ranked the 100 most populous U.S. cities in descending order of asthma prevalence, emergency room visits, and mortality. .
Seven hardest places to live with asthma:
- Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Virginia Richmond
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- New Haven, Connecticut
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Recent atmospheric phenomena also cause asthma
Breezometer.com A similar survey completed recently identified the three worst cities for asthma sufferers. This study investigated asthmatics for environmental triggers of asthma attacks. Breezeometer.com then analyzed 2021 air and weather data to find the triggers for prosperous cities throughout the year.
- Indianapolis
- Houston
- Nashville
Why are these cities rated so highly?
Many people who suffer from asthma now pay attention to the high levels of pollen in trees and grasses. Pollen is one of the main triggers of asthma
Chemical stimuli, air pollution, extreme weather changes, smoke, dust mites, stress and exercise can also trigger attacks. It is considered
"Some of the most common risk factors for developing asthma are genetic factors, such as a parent with asthma or having an allergic condition," explained AAFA. did. "However, many risk factors include developing severe respiratory infections as a child, exposure to smoke, exposure to certain chemical irritants and industrial dusts at work, exposure to air pollutants, and exposure to air pollutants." It's environmental, such as exposure."
Breezometer says Houston is on a three-game winning streak for asthma triggers. Saharan dust flies high in the atmosphere and reaches the United States, high humidity and wildfire smoke.
Atmospheric winds pick up African dust, which moves in a plume across the Atlantic Ocean, usually every 3-5 days from late spring to early fall. As dust settles out of the atmosphere, it adversely affects air quality.
What is asthma?
CDC estimates that 1.6 million emergency room visits and 200,000 hospitalizations are for asthma each year.
"Asthma is becoming an increasingly impactful phenomenon in our economy," Paul Walsh, his Breezometer.com general manager, told his FOX Weather. “Thus, it is estimated to cost about $82 billion in the United States alone, but is actually expected to rise to about $1 billion globally over the next 20 years.”
"Asthma is a chronic disease in which the airways become inflamed and it becomes difficult to breathe," said Ephekari. “When exposed to triggers, symptoms develop, which can lead to airway swelling, mucus production, and narrowing.”
Emergency room visits and mortality rates are linked to poverty, health insurance It is distorted by factors such as lack, smoking laws. Poor and uninsured asthma sufferers are less likely to receive medications and regular doctor visits.
A Foundation study found that most of the cities designated as 'worse than normal' were concentrated in three major asthma zones. Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley and West.
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Belt
The study found that urban populations and those living near manufacturing, industrial facilities, and busy roads were most at risk, with rates of childhood asthma increasing. has been shown to be particularly high.
These include the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Access to experts is also a problem, and experts say this is not the case in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The AAFA reported there were fewer than a dozen of him in the area.
Ohio Valley Belt
The worst asthmatic cities in Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky all have poverty rates , along with low levels of air pollution and use of asthma medications, studies point to as important factors.
West Belt
Lower on the list but still in the top 20 worst cities are Tuscon, Arizona and California This is Fresno. Both cities had high asthma-related mortality.
Fresno is heavily devastated by wildfires and often suffers from poor air quality during the winter months when temperatures invert, resulting in pollutants stay on the surface of the earth.
The American Lung Association gave Tucson an "F" for the state of the aviation report.
Other findings
The study also highlighted differences in asthma rates by gender, age, ethnicity, and race.
- Black Americans are 1.5 times more likely to have asthma than white Americans and Puerto Ricans are 2 times more likely to have it.
- Likelihood of dying from asthma increases with age "Lifelong asthma can change the structure of the lungs, and as we age, so do the lungs," said Efekhari. “Asthma is often confused with other illnesses that are common in this age group, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure.”
- Among children, male mortality is He outnumbered women by 2 to 1. Female mortality in adulthood is about 3 to 2 higher than male mortality.
The Foundation closely monitors extreme weather and climate change factors. These include rising temperatures, rising carbon dioxide levels, and increasing air pollution.
"Extreme weather events can cause flooding, promote microbial and mold growth, and exacerbate allergies and asthma." It produces smoke and ash that can further complicate and exacerbate allergy and allergy symptoms.”
and release more carbon dioxide,” Efekari continued. "This causes the plant's growing season to start earlier in the year and end later in the year, meaning it takes longer to produce pollen, and the pollen season is longer and more severe."
The 'perfect storm' for asthmatics
Asthma episodes, attacks, and asthma hospitalizations. This is usually done in the third week of September, ”he said Efekhari. “This peak coincides with a complete set of asthma triggers, including the peak of ragweed season, increased exposure to mold from leaves, increased exposure to respiratory disease by children returning to school, and the onset of flu season. The
AAFA plans to release an updated report in September.
