I moved to east central Kentucky 9 years ago from central California about 9 years ago, have always had lung and allergy troubles, they have definitely got worse here, I thought I would maybe get used to it here, but gets worse every year, I thought about moving, but not sure where. Would like to got to maybe Colorado or Wyoming, anybody have any ideas? Thanks and GOD bless — Gary, Kentucky
Kentucky [KY]
Top ten BEST places for allergies (and worst)
In 1996 and 1997, we posted info about the ten worst US cities for asthma sufferers as released by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Often people ask “Where are the best places?” Sperling’s Best Places, in conjunction with Schering-Plough Corporation, has released it’s study of the ten best and worst places to live with allergies. Thanks to Lewis who provided the link and shared more comments about this here at Allergy Climates.
Topping the list of best places, according to the Sperling study, is Grand Rapids, MI. Louisville, KY, ranks worst. The AAFA study, which ranks Asthma (as opposed to the Sperling study which ranks Allergies) lists Atlanta, GA, as the worst US city to live in.
Sterling also seems to support what we’ve often pointed out here at Allergy Climates, that there is no safe-haven for allergy sufferers. Schering-Plough writes:
“A key finding of this study is that there is no geographic center for allergies…no part of the country is immune to their effects.”
The Sterling study is based on mean pollen and mold spore levels for the years 2002, 2001, 2000, and 1999, while the AAFA does the studies annually. The AAFA study also takes into consideration air pollution. Air pollution and smog, especially ozone, are now believed to play an important role as triggers for asthma and allergy.
Climate and asthma – worst places to live
“There’s no such thing as an ‘asthma-free’ city,” says Mike Tringale, Director of Communications at Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. This is from a February 8, 2006, press release announcing the 2006 U.S. Asthma Capitals.
Topping the list are Scranton, PA, Richmond, VA, and Philadelphia, PA. Only one southern city, 4th ranked Atlanta, GA, made the top ten this year. You can check out the entire list of 100 Worst Cities for Asthma in 2006 from the AAFA website.
This is the third year AAFA has ranked cities for asthma. During the first two years, southern cities took the top three spots with the exception of third-ranked St. Louis, MO in 2005. St. Louis has consistently scored in the top ten all three years. In 2004, KY and TN topped the list, and last year (2005) Little Rock, AR (directly east of my western AR location) and St. Louis, MO (directly to my north) took the #2 and #3 spots. This year brought some surprises, as the North Central and North Eastern seaboard areas seem to dominate. See the 2004, 2005, and 2006 lists to see how your area fares.
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