Some Worst Cities for Asthma, 2010: Did Your City Make the List?

Did Your City Make the List?

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways that makes breathing difficult. Many things in the environment can trigger an attack, including air pollution, secondhand smoke, and pollen. Asthma affects one in 15 Americans and is on the rise. While there are no asthma-free cities, some are more challenging than others for people living with asthma. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has released their “2010 Asthma Capitals.”  Here No.

10: Atlanta Atlanta still ranks in AAFA's top 10 worst asthma cities, though residents may breathe a little easier now than in 2007, when it hit No. 1. Twelve factors are used to formulate the list, including air pollution, pollen scores, asthma prevalence, use of "rescue inhalers," and poverty.  Atlanta fares worse than many other cities in air quality, smoke-free laws, and having enough asthma specialists for all those gasping for air.

No. 9: Augusta, Ga.

Golf lovers see endless rows of blooming flowers during the Master's tournament here each April, yet flowers, grasses, and their pollen are only a minor player in Augusta's asthma ranking. Poverty, high asthma death rates, and incomplete smoke-free laws make this city one of the 10 worst asthma cities in 2010. It jumped up 10 places from No. 19 in 2009.

No. 8: Philadelphia

"Philly" ranks better than many cities on smoke-free laws, but its pollen score and poverty level helped it move up into the top 10 worst asthma cities for 2010 – up from No. 12 the year before.

 No. 7: Tulsa, Okla.

Dry, dusty Oklahoma can have a surprising amount of pollen, and that's one reason Tulsa made it into the top 10 worst asthma cities for 2010 – up from No. 11 the year before. Asthma occurrence and death rates here are also higher than average. And smoke-free laws in Tulsa haven't caught up with many other cities.

 No. 6: Memphis, Tenn.

This Mississippi river town has many asthma sufferers singing the blues. Memphis remains at No. 6 again this year. Weak public smoking policies, poor air quality, and high poverty rates continue to be problematic. While asthma doesn’t discriminate based on socio-economic status, people living in poverty often have less access to health care and medications needed to manage their condition.

No. 5: Milwaukee

Asthma problems continue to brew in this Lake Michigan city, though Milwaukee has improved from its status from last year, when it was the No. 2 worst asthma city. Bright spots are better-than-average health insurance coverage and a good number of asthma specialists. Milwaukee gets low marks for its poverty rate, pollen score, and residents' high use of asthma medications. The lack of a smoking ban in all public places contributes.

No. 4: Knoxville, Tenn.

Knoxville moves up to No. 4 from No. 7 last year. It has ranked in the top 10 worst asthma cities year after year, like other cities in Tennessee and across the South. Knoxville does have a better-than-average number of specialists to treat people with asthma. But the city is still vexed by poor air quality and above-average use of asthma medications.

No. 3: Chattanooga, Tenn.

A beautiful riverfront park and nearby mountains make this a tourist destination for outdoor enthusiasts, but asthma sufferers might bring along their medicine. Poor air quality and an above-average asthma death rate help put Chattanooga at the No. 3 spot in 2010, up from No. 4 last year.

No. 2: St. Louis

The Gateway Arch is not the only thing in the air in St. Louis. High pollen counts, poor air quality, and the lack of a smoking ban in all public places contribute to big asthma issues here, according to the AAFA. St. Louis dropped to the No. 2 spot this year after ranking as the worst city for asthma sufferers in 2009.

No. 1: Richmond, Va.

This historic city on the James River is the AAFA's top "Asthma Capital" for 2010, named the most challenging place to live with asthma. Richmond earned this unhealthy title with a high pollen score, poor air quality, and incomplete smoke-free laws. Thirteen of the 25 worst cities this year are in the South, largely because Southern tobacco-producing areas have been slow to adopt 100% smoke-free law