How Nasa Is Monitoring Air Quality With Satellites
States in the Great Lakes region are incorporating high-resolution satellite data from NASA into their efforts to measure ozone levels . The enhanced information gives a more accurate reading than ground observations alone and provides states with more resources to meet federal air quality standards.
Additionally, NASA can provide information on other factors relevant to air quality and the overall environment, like wind, weather, temperature, and soil moisture levels.
One of the main benefits this measurement information provides is giving regulators a clear picture of both current air pollution levels and the results of any mitigation effortsbasically, the before and after pictures for air quality improvement.
Strategies to reduce ground ozone and other air pollutants are essential for peoples health , and are relevant to large-scale climate change efforts.
Fight For Healthy Air
At AprilAire, we believe everyone deserves to Breathe the Fullness of Life, and were not the only ones that feel this way. Through our Proud Partnership with the American Lung Association, we aim to fill every home with Healthy Air. Both AprilAire and the Lung Association believe that breathing Healthy Air should be available to everyone, and maintaining healthy Indoor Air Quality is an important step for your lung health. Read more about our partnership and the efforts of the American Lung Association on their website.
*Disclaimer: The American Lung Association does not endorse any product, device, or service.
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We take the importance of caring for others to heart at . We believe we have a purpose beyond the individual work we do and that being a successful company also means Being a Good Neighbor. Its one of our core values, and something we put into action each year.
We remain committed to helping our local communities in a number of ways, including financial contributions and volunteering. In the past, weve raised funds to provide pack-n-plays to mothers in need, volunteered at local blood drives, and held various donation drives throughout the year.
While our partnership opportunities may look different in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, were excited to continue our work with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, whose mission statement reads:
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Impact Of Climate Change
Climate change can impact asthma. Ozone or particle pollution can cause or aggravate asthma. These pollutant levels can be different depending on where you live. The American Lung Association produces an annual report listing the cities with the most and least ozone and particle pollution. You can also find information about daily pollution levels in your area at Airnow.7,8
Higher temperatures due to climate change can also increase ground-level ozone. Ground-level ozone can be the most harmful ozone for people with asthma. Spikes in ground-level ozone on hot days correspond to increased emergency room visits related to asthma. Warmer summers have also caused flowers to bloom earlier and longer, releasing more pollen. This can aggravate allergies and asthma.7
It may be better to live in a place with less overall air pollution or allergens so that the spikes are not as bad. On warm days, you can also check the air quality index before going outside.
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Wheeze Alert: The Best And Worst Places To Live With Asthma
Asthma, the chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, affects nearly 26 million Americans, including nearly 5 million younger than age 18. African-Americans are two to three times more likely to die from asthma than other racial and ethnic groups, and black children are twice as likely to have asthma as their white counterparts.
Some cities are harder on asthma sufferers than others. According to the 2012 Asthma Capitals report from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the worst places to live with asthma were:
1. Memphis, Tennessee
Worst Places To Live For Asthma Sufferers
If you have asthma and you live in or are considering a move to one of these cities, you might have a more difficult time controlling your asthma symptoms. People with asthma may live happily in these cities, but it may require some research on the proper ways to counteract or mitigate the high levels of environmental triggers.
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Asthma And Cities: Should I Move
Understandably, many people living in cities and suffering with asthma are desperate to get out. They want to move, convinced that life in another part of the country will resolve their asthma symptoms. However, asthma experts generally advise against the idea.
Why? For one, it often doesn’t work. Asthma is such a complex disease — affected by so many different factors — that it’s hard to predict how a person will do in a new location, Waldron says.
Another thing to keep in mind: people who have allergies are prone to developing new allergies. So after all the bother of moving, you could just wind up trading your old ragweed allergy in Boston for a brand new oak tree allergy in Palm Bay, Fla.
Be very cautious when considering a move because of your asthma symptoms. Remember, there’s no best city for asthma. If you’re determined, Bernstein recommends that you try living in the new location for a few months before permanently uprooting yourself.
Copd Environmental Risk Factors
Extended exposure to irritants and pollutants can increase your risk of COPD. It can also worsen symptoms if you already have it.
Tobacco smoke is the most significant risk factor for COPD. Long-term cigarette smokers face the highest risk. But people who have continued exposure to large amounts of secondhand smoke are also at increased risk of COPD.
Other environmental risk factors for COPD include long-term exposure to:
- chemical fumes, vapors, and dust in the workplace
- burning fuel fumes, such as from gas used for cooking and heating, paired with poor ventilation
In a nutshell, what you breathe affects your risk of COPD. The fewer pollutants and particulate matter, the better.
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Top 5 Worst Cities For Asthma Sufferers
These cities were ranked based on their air quality, the proportion of residents with asthma and the number of asthma-related medical incidents.
#5: Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville has a higher prevalence of asthma than any other city in the United States. Additionally, it is ranked fourth in the nation in long-term asthma control medication use.
#4: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is eleventh in the nation in asthma prevalence, but it is sixth in the nation in asthma-related deaths. This city is also ranked fifth in the nation in poverty, which affects how well the general population is able to treat and control asthma symptoms.
#3: Dayton, Ohio
Dayton was found to be the worst city in Ohio, and the entire Midwestern United States, for people with asthma. The city is fourth in the nation in asthma-related emergency room visits. Additionally, it is ranked third in both quick-relief and long-term asthma control medication use.
#2: Richmond, Virginia
Richmond was ranked first in the nation for asthma-related deaths and sixth in asthma-related emergency room visits. Richmond has the second-highest poverty level and third-highest pollen levels out of the cities in the AFAA report.
#1: Springfield, Massachusetts
Possible Causes Of Asthma
Most people with asthma developed the condition as children. Scientists dont know the exact cause of asthma, but they think there may be a connection to infections or contact with allergens in early life.
Usually, a family history of asthma or allergies increases the risk. There is no cure, but people living with asthma typically use a combination of lifestyle modifications and medications to reduce exposure to or the consequences of asthma triggers.
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Most Challenging Places To Live With Asthma:
Right now, many afflicted with asthma are keeping a close eye on the high tree and grass pollen levels. Pollen is one of the top triggers of asthma.
Chemical irritant, air pollution, extreme weather changes, smoke, dust mites, stress and exercise also are believed to trigger attacks.
“Some of the most common risk factors for developing asthma are genetic, such as having a parent with asthma or having an allergic condition,” Sanaz Efekhari, V.P. of Corporate Affairs and Research for AAFA, explained. “However, many risk factors are environmental, such as developing a severe respiratory infection as a child, exposure to smoke, exposure to certain chemical irritants or industrial dusts in the workplace, and exposure to air pollutants.”
The CDC estimates that asthma accounts for 1.6 million visits to the emergency room and 200,000 hospitalizations yearly.
“Asthma is a chronic disease that causes your airways to become inflamed, making it hard to breathe,” Efekhari said. “When you are exposed to a trigger, symptoms may appear and cause airway swelling, mucus production and narrowing.”
Emergency room visits and mortality numbers are also skewed by factors like poverty, lack of health insurance and smoking laws. Asthmatics in poverty and/or without insurance are less likely to have medicines and regular doctor visits.
Best And Worst States To Live With Asthma
The prevalence and severity of asthma vary widely across the United States. These factors often change based on the air quality, awareness, and medical care available in each state. If you live in an area with high rates of asthma, its important to get a proper diagnosis and to be aware of the ways asthma may affect you or your children. Check out the latest data on asthma prevalence for adults and children, and the number of asthma-related hospitalizations by region to see the best and worst states to live with asthma.
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What Are The Benefits Of Breathing Healthy Air And What Are Everyday Things That People Can Do To Breathe The Fullness Of Life
Clean air is essential for healthy lungs. The American Lung Association works to ensure that the air we breathe is clean and safe from harmful pollution. In fact, every year we publish our State of the Air Report, which looks at two of the most widespread and dangerous air pollutants, ozone and fine particulate matter. Our 2021 State of the Air Report found that more than 4 in 10 Americansover 135 million peopleare living in places with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution.
One of the most important things you can do to Breathe the Fullness of Life is to keep sources of pollution out of your home. Check out these commonsense tips on Lung.org. Additionally, ventilation helps reduce indoor air pollution, but it works best if paired with keeping known sources of air pollution out of the building. For tips on how to use ventilation to protect your lung health, check out our section on Ventilation: How Buildings Breathe.
Cost Of Healthcare And Access
If you are moving to take better care of your health, it makes sense that you need to look for a state that has affordable, accessible healthcare. Talk to your current healthcare provider about what changes you can expect, and be ready to move to another plan if the cost increases.
Pro tip: One of the best places to live with arthritis, New Mexico, also has one of the most affordable healthcare systems in the country.
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The Best Cities In The Country For Asthma Sufferers
Omaha has been ranked as the best city in the United States for asthma sufferers.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, asthma is a very prevalent disease in the United States, as it affects 1 in 12 adults and nearly 1 in 10 children. This leads to high annual costs for the country, as $56 billion is spent each year to combat the breathing affliction. Asthma accounts for just over 14 million visits to the doctor and 439,000 patient discharges over the course of a year. While this is a disease that is all over the country, location is a major determining factor in the amount of people who will suffer from asthma.
A new report has compiled medical data from across the United States in order to determine the best and worst cities for people to live in if they have asthma. The information was only collected from the 50 largest cities in the country to get a clear picture of how asthma affects a wide section of the population. To compile the list, there were several factors used: How common asthma occurs in these cities, how many relevant health care providers there are, the air quality and how costly the asthma care actually is.
The list found the top 10 best and worst cities in the country for those who have asthma. The best cities include Omaha at number one, followed by Nashville, Arlington, Tucson and Seattle. For the worst cities, Los Angeles was at the top of the list, followed by Philadelphia, San Jose, Chicago and Milwaukee.
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Cost Of Living Overall
Cost of living is a consideration, especially if you are living on a fixed income. Some of the best places to live with arthritis in the United States also happen to be some of the most affordable.
Pro-tip: While some of the cheapest places to live may not be great for those with osteoarthritis, two of the best states Arizona and New Mexico are affordable options with other perks .
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Top 100 Most Challenging Places To Live With Asthma For 2021
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America publishes the Asthma Capitals report to raise awareness about the nationwide impacts of asthma. The report analyzes data from across the continental United States and ranks the 100 largest cities where it is challenging to live with asthma. The report ranks cities by the most critical of health outcomes asthma prevalence, emergency department visits due to asthma attacks, and asthma mortality. The outcomes are not weighted equally. The report also examines asthma risk factors that influence the outcomes. See if your city made it on the list! Learn more at Asthma Capitals 2021.
How Does Your City Affect Your Asthma
Places such as a valley, inner-city or heavily forested areas can be asthma aggregators and not ideal places to raise a child with asthma.
Valley areas trap pollutants like smog over cities, creating a barrier that physically stops pollutants from escaping the city
Medium-to-large sized cities are most likely to be heavily polluted due to the excessive population they have and smoke released from multiple cars and trucks on their roads. Cities that don’t have smoking laws are even worse, as secondhand smoke is hazardous to children with asthma.
Furthermore, the climate in a city can affect asthma symptoms depending on the type you have. Cold, dry air causes the airways to narrow making it a non-ideal choice for asthmatics triggered by lower temperatures. On the other hand hot, humid weather makes it easier for airborne particulate matter such as dust and mold to stay in the air longer which is problematic for those with allergic asthma. Lastly, cities with lots of trees and greenery can irritate children who are allergic to pollen and grass.
If you already know these factors are affecting you or your childs asthma symptoms, consider using an air purifier such as the Alen BreatheSmart FIT50 to help get relief so you can breathe better indoors.
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The Worst States And Regions For People With Allergies And Asthma
Ohio and Massachusetts were found to have the most cities that ranked in the top 20 worst places to live with asthma, but asthma triggers do not necessarily follow state lines. When compiling data for the 2018 report, the AAFA found two specific regions that seemed to have worse-than-average environmental conditions for people living with asthma. These regions are specifically outlined by the AAFA as asthma belts because they each have a high proportion of asthma capitals:
- Ohio-Lake Erie Asthma BeltThis region is home to 8 of the 20 worst cities for asthma sufferers, including Louisville, Kentucky Detroit, Michigan and the six Ohio cities that ranked on the list.
- Northeast Mid-Atlantic Asthma BeltThe AAFA theorizes that poverty, air quality and access to specialists may factor into why many cities in this region are potentially hazardous for people with asthma. The region is home to 9 of the top 20 worst cities for asthma sufferers, including Springfield, Massachusetts Richmond, Virginia and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
For a comprehensive list of the worst cities for asthma sufferers, read the full AAFA 2018 report.
Here Are The 10 Best Places To Live In The Us If You Have Seasonal Allergies
More than 50 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, and most of those allergies are driven by the pollen in the air.
The AAFA released its annual list of so-called allergy capitals in the U.S. for 2022. It is based on pollen data, the use of over-the-counter allergy medication and the number of board-certified allergists or immunologists in each place.
A city at the top of the list means allergy sufferers will likely have a more challenging time treating them, and the opposite is true if a city is at the bottom of the list.
Kenneth Mendez, CEO and president of the AAFA, said that more than 24 million people in the U.S. have hay fever a condition that produces a runny nose, congestion, sneezing and itching. He said seasonal allergies can also trigger an asthma attack, and emergency room visits spike each pollen season.
Around 3,600 people per year die from asthma, so it is important to address and manage asthma and allergy triggers where you live, Mendez said in a press release issued by the AAFA.
The AAFA recommends people with seasonal allergies keep the windows closed during pollen season, use HEPA filters on their A/C systems, take showers before bed and wear masks and hair coverings when outside. Get even more tips from the AAFA here.
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