The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has released its top cities for asthma issues.
Read on to see where your city ranks:

Top Asthma Capitals for 2009

1. St. Louis, MO
2. Milwaukee, WI
3. Birmingham, AL
4. Chattanooga, TN
5. Charlotte, NC
6. Memphis, TN
7. Knoxville, TN
8. McAllen, TX
9. Atlanta, GA
10. Little Rock, AR

The Asthma Capitals is an annual research project to call attention to the asthma epidemic and to
advocate for changes in each city to improve the quality of life for people with asthma. Rankings
are based on analysis of 12 factors in three groups:

• Prevalence Factors – morbidity and mortality statistics
• Risk Factors – air quality, pollen, “100% smoke-free” laws, poverty and more
• Medical Factors – medication usage and access to specialists

St Louis was ranked number 9 last year, but due to a number of factors such as a higher than
average pollen score, continued poor air quality, a lack of “100% smoke-free” laws and others, it
has jumped to the number one spot. Check out http://www.asthmacapitals.com/ for more
information, detailed rankings complete with information on the above three factor groups and
the full 100 cities that made rankings. You can also find other helpful links there. I found my city
a little higher in the pages than i’d hoped for!

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation’s motto is “Don’t Move – Improve” meaning good asthma
management is critical. You can’t move away from asthma, every city has contributing factors,
whether it is poor air, lack of smoking restrictions or access to specialists. Even if your city ranks
high, take care of yourself. Here are some management tips offered by The Allergy and Asthma
Foundation:

1. Identify and minimize contact with your asthma triggers. Look for trends
in what causes your attacks. Can you avoid the triggers? If it is due to an allergic reaction, like dust, can you dually
manage it with allergy treatment?
2. Take your medications as prescribed and use them correctly.
3. Monitor your asthma and recognize early signs that it may be worsening. Take medication as
soon as you feel symptoms coming on.
4. Know what to do when your asthma is worsening. Have a plan and be prepared. The AAFA
has an Asthma Action Plan that you can print out and use.
5. Talk to your doctor. Forge an open relationship and ask the questions that you have.