Is Arizona Good For Asthma

The Good News Is That Asthma Is Treatable

The Coalition is a nonprofit partnership of public health, environmental agencies, managed care professionals, clinicians parents and other community stakeholders. As a partnership we can do so many things to make a positive difference in the lives of people with asthma … from educating Arizonans and the medical community and advocating for changes in public policy to finding ways to control asthma and eliminating deaths and suffering.

What Are The Biggest Pollen Producers In Arizona

The top allergy-aggravating plant is Ragweed. Nothing about that word makes anyone smile… With several species being native to the Phoenix area, Ragweed creates LOTS of pollen.

Trees make plenty of pollen too, especially between December and May.

• Western juniper, mountain cedar, and hickory make wintertime uncomfortable. When they are finished, other trees pick up the slack. Mesquite clogs the air with pollen from March until May.
• Pine and paloverde cause trouble from Valentine’s day until the April showers. Oak and olive make April and May a pain .
• Then you have the grasses, these produce irritating pollen from March or April through October. Bermuda grass, in particular, produces a high level of allergens to make your life miserable.
• Even tumbleweed has a part to play. While it has decorated western movies for decades, if you have allergies, keep your distance.

High And Low Humidity Not Good For Asthma

by Health Professional

It’s roasting outside, yet the sun beaming down on Jake Gallant as he his beach chair feels great. The warm breeze closes his eyes and listens to the soporific, relaxing sound of waves.

“This is the kind of weather I’d like to pack into a bottle to open in the dog days of winter,” he thinks, “except for one thing: the dog gone humidity make the air heavy to breath.”

As anyone with a chronic lung disease will attest to, humidity can make air harder to inhale. Although, as the notes, humidity alone cannot trigger an asthma attack.

That in mind, here is the latest wisdom regarding high humidity and asthma:

• An with a relative humidity lower than 50% had fewer “rates of asthma.”

• The report also states that “every 10% increase in indoor humidity was associated with a 2.7% increase in the prevalence of asthma.”

• The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology states high humidity levels also have a tendency to be harboring grounds for fungus and molds that might bother asthmatics.

• When humidity is greater than 50%, the amount of dust mites in the air is increased.

So now that you know high humidity is not particularly good for asthma, what can you do about it?

According to the American Lung Association, “Air-conditioning can help. It allows windows and doors to stay closed. This keeps some pollen and mold spores outside. It also lowers indoor humidity. Low humidity helps to control mold and dust mites.”

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Controlling Your Asthma Symptoms

Of course, you could be living in one of the “best” cities for asthma and still have the nation’s worst asthma symptoms. Location matters less than how well you’re controlling your condition, experts say.

Start at home. Even if you have no power over the weather, smog, or the pollen count outside your house, you do have some control over the allergens and irritants inside it. And what’s inside might have a bigger impact on your asthma symptoms.

“People spend an average of 22 hours a day indoors,” says Bernstein. That makes for a lot of exposure to potential asthma triggers in a confined space. Allergy-proofing your home and removing irritants — like perfumes and cleaning agents — could really help.

You also need to work with your doctor to get control of your condition. If you have allergic asthma, that means allergy testing. It’s the only way to find out precisely what is causing your problems. You’ll also need to use your medications exactly as prescribed.

While it’s good to be aware of how the local conditions in your city could affect asthma symptoms, where you live shouldn’t dictate how you feel.

“As long as you have good control of your asthma, you really can live in any city in the world and still be symptom-free,” says Waldron.

Jonathan A. Bernstein, MD, allergist professor of medicine, department of internal medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

Cascya Charlot, MD, medical director, Allergy and Asthma Care of Brooklyn, N.Y.

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.

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The Asthma And Allergy Foundation Of America 2018 Report

Each year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America compiles data from across the nation to create a list of the top 100 worst U.S. cities for people with asthma. Their goal is for people living in these cities to recognize the environmental triggers and take additional steps to keep their asthma symptoms under control.

To rank the cities, the AAFA looked at a variety of factors, including asthma rates by city, asthma-related emergency room visits and asthma-related mortality. Additionally, the report looked at environmental risk factors such as air quality, pollen counts and municipal tobacco policies. Other environmental factors that contributed to the results are poverty levels, access to respiratory specialists, medicine use and the percentage of uninsured patients in the area.

In Arizona Asthma Highest In Tucson And Phoenix Copd Highest Near State Borders

By: James Pitt& nbspJul. 19, 2018

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are two of the most common lung disorders in the United States. Differential diagnosis can be a challenge. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians guidelines on distinguishing asthma from COPD, asthma generally has earlier onset, more variable symptoms, and normal chest X-ray. Many options for diagnosis and treatment are available, including recently developed digital health tools.

Asthma and COPD share many risk factors, including secondhandsmoke and air pollution. Dexur has previously reported on associations between COPD and population density in Connecticut and asthma and urbanization in Mississippi.

In this study, Dexur analysts examined rates of asthma and COPD at the 30 largest hospitals in Arizona. Though asthma and COPD have common risk factors, they showed different geographic incidence patterns.

COPD rates trended higher at the periphery of the state, peaking at 40.65% of total discharges at Kingman Regional Medical Center . Asthma rates trended higher towards the center of the state, including 10.45% at Banner Estrella Medical Center .

The highest asthma rate was at 11.76% at Tucson Medical Center . The relatively high rates of asthma in the Phoenix metropolitan area and in Tucson are consistent with the well-studied relationship between asthma and urbanization.

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Invest In An Air Purifier

We recommend buying an air purifier not only because were an air purifier company but because it helps a ton. Indoor air is 3-5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Our True HEPA air purifiers can filter up to 99.99 percent of airborne particles down to 0.1 microns, removing irritants and providing you and your child with clean, fresh air.

Alen BreatheSmart FLEX Air Purifier for Asthma From $364

Tucson Ranks 4th Best In Us For People With Asthma

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The dry heat of Southern Arizona has long drawn people with respiratory problems, and a new study ranks Tucson the fourth best city in the country for asthma sufferers.

The consumer advocacy group, NerdWallet, ranked the 50 most populous cities in the U.S. based on prevalence, the number of physicians and specialists, air quality and the cost of asthma care.

Fisayo Ositelu, the head of consumer insights at NerdWallet, said Tucson performed particularly well for its air quality and cost of treating asthma. The average costs of the most common asthma medications were lower in Tucson.

Ositelu said the city also performed well in the area of air quality.

However, he pointed out that the city could move up in the rankings.

Compared to the other top cities, the number of primary care physicians and specialists were lower,” he said. “So Tucson can actually improve in that area.

Only Omaha, Neb., Nashville, Tenn., and Arlington, TX outperformed Tucson. Ositelu stressed that smaller cities tended to rank higher in the study because they have fewer cars and less air pollution.

Phoenix ranked the eighth worst city in the study.

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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.

Asthma Capitals: Full Report With Asthma Outcomes And Risk Factors

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted daily life in most of 2020. The pandemic influenced some changes in health outcomes and risk factors like pollen exposure, medicine use, and emergency room visits. In 2020, fewer people experienced pollen allergies due to COVID-19 restrictions, recommendations to stay indoors, and other preventative measures like mask wearing. As a result, use of long-term asthma medicines were also down along with fewer people heading to hospital emergency rooms for asthma.

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Regional Trends And Asthma Belts

This report also examines regional trends found in the two Asthma Belts the Ohio Valley area and the Northeast Mid-Atlantic region and the impact of human activity and climate change in the west.

Northeast Mid-Atlantic Asthma Belt

This cluster extends from Massachusetts to North Carolina. Poverty, air pollution, and access to specialists are key risk factors for these cities. This is likely due to more industrial and urban populations. Asthma rates tend to be higher, especially among children, in urban locations.

This years top Asthma Capital is Allentown, Pennsylvania, the mid-way point in the Northeast Mid-Atlantic Asthma Belt. Allentowns placement in the top spot is largely due to high rates of asthma-related emergency room visits. Compared to previous years, Allentown’s asthma emergency room rate has been increasing steadily.

Ohio Valley Asthma Belt

Three Ohio cities are in the top 20 of our report Cleveland, Dayton, and Columbus. Nearby, Detroit, Michigan, and Louisville, Kentucky, appear in this Asthma Belt. With so much of this region facing poor outcomes, asthma appears to be a widespread concern. Poverty, air pollution, and high numbers of medicine use are the key risk factors that have placed these cities at the top of our report.

Asthma in the West

Knowing Your Arizonan Allergens

If you have a genetic disposition to asthma but have not been diagnosed with the illness, there are a few things you can do to help be aware of what triggers it. One of the best things you can do is to know what allergens affect you. Our clinics can help you learn about your allergies through prick testing. This method of testing is conducted on the skin and includes all of the most common types of allergens:

• Animal dander
• Pollens
• Molds

There may not be as many molds in Phoenix as somewhere like in the Midwest, but the desert is not mold free. Alternaria is a mold that is located nearly everywhere across North America. Perhaps the biggest problem is that there are numerous strains, and you may be allergic to one type but not another. The good news is that our doctors have the advanced knowledge and medications will be able to test and treat for the strains that are likely to grow in our desert area.

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People With Allergic Asthma At Risk During Covid

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Here are the differences between the two.

PHOENIX — It’s peak allergy season in Arizona. Right now, there is a high pollen count from trees and grass. And it’s got some people wondering if they’re struggling with allergies or symptoms of coronavirus.

It’s a question Arizona Allergy Associate’s Dr. Rahul Rishi has been asked over and over again. “What’s the difference between allergies and symptoms of coronavirus,” Dr. Rishi says people want to know.

Dr. Rishi said coronavirus almost always brings fever, fatigue and muscle aches, whereas allergies bring congestion and runny nose. There is one symptom that is similar between the coronavirus and allergies: shortness of breath. “Allergic asthma is much more prominent in our society than people are aware of,” said Dr. Rishi.

And, Dr. Rishi said coronavirus is especially dangerous for people who have allergic asthma. “Asthmatics are an increased risk of developing complications with this virus,” said Dr. Rishi.

Dr. Rishi said if you or your child is wheezing or have shortness of breath, there’s a good chance you might have asthma. It’s a serious condition that needs medication. Dr. Rishi said see an allergist if you believe you have asthma, but see a doctor if you have a fever or a cough.

Fall And Spring Allergens

Pollen is challenging for people with asthma and allergies. When pollen counts go up, many people may have a more severe asthma attack. Because of the potential for this environmental trigger, even cities with low levels of air pollution may pose a hazard for those living with asthma.

The AAFA ranks allergy capitals those areas that pose the greatest challenge to allergy and asthma sufferers by looking at pollen counts, allergy medicine usage, and the availability of allergy medical specialists. So the foundation looks not just at the natural environment, but how people living in these areas actually manage the condition.

Jackson, Mississippi, and Memphis, Tennessee, are ranked first and second most challenging for both fall allergies and spring allergies. McAllen, Texas, is third for fall allergies, and Syracuse, New York, for spring allergies. But the individual rankings may make little difference: The top five cities for allergy challenges were the same for both spring and fall, just in a slightly different order.

To find out what allergy conditions are like in your area right now, visit Pollen.com and enter your ZIP code.

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The Arizona Climate And The Aging Community

Although preference and opportunity plays a big role in peoples migration to the valley of the sun, there are other reasons why Arizona is an ideal place to call home. If you take the time to analyze most moves, the climate in this part of the country is extremely beneficial for the aging community. For those of you that have lived here for more than a year, youve probably noticed an influx of retirees during the winter months. This is due to a large number of northerners traveling to Arizona to escape the freezing temperatures of their primary residency.

Also known as snowbirds, a majority of these people arent just vacationing theyre medicating. Older people with more severe conditions, like osteoporosis, have permanently made the move. The cold isnt the only thing thats hindering their overall health and well-being. Although the temperatures rise June September, the weather conditions of Arizona provide travelers and residents with a number of health benefits that target life altering symptoms. Since we provide the Phoenix community with an effective way to treat compression fractures caused by osteoporosis, here are some of the reasons calling Arizona home is a healthy choice.

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.

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When Is The Air Quality At Its Best In Tucson

In opposition to the previous question, after the heightened readings of PM2.5 started to abate early in the year, the air quality entered into a period of time in which the level of air pollution was even lower, making it extremely clean and breathable, free from large amounts of smoke, haze and other air contaminants that many cities throughout the United States are unfortunately subject to.

The months of February through to April showed the cleanest air readings on record, with readings of 3.8 g/m³, 2.4 g/m³ and 3.9 g/m³ all being shown respectively. This made March the cleanest month of the year with its reading of 2.4 g/m³, an extremely respectable reading. Of note is that the PM2.5 count rose slightly during the summer months, for reasons that will be covered in short.