Asthma is an incurable inflammation of the bronchial tubes in which the muscles of the bronchial wall in the lungs tightens and extra mucus is produced, according to the Mayo Clinic. Asthma is affected by environmental factors, among others, and a study by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America determined which of the 100 largest metro areas in America were best suited for asthma sufferers.
Cape Coral, Florida
Cape Coral is the largest city in Southwest Florida and is home to more intra-coastal canals than any other city in the world. It has a population of more than 160,000 and is considered in the same metro area as Fort Meyers.
Because of an extremely low reported number of existing asthma cases, excellent pollen and air quality scores among other factors, Cape Coral was the top rated city in a study conducted by the AAFA.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is a beautiful town in the Pacific Northwest that is not only a nice place to visit, but also a great place for asthmatics to call home. This rainy city by the sea can claim fame through the invention of grunge rock, the birth of the new coffee shop culture and its fantastic views of the Cascade and Olympic Mountains, according to VisitSeattle.org. However, its ranking as second best among asthma-friendly metropolitan areas in America is the factor that may bring more people dropping anchor in the home of the Space Needle.
According to the AAFA report, the city has an extremely low crude death rate for asthma as well as great pollen scores, low poverty rate and public non-smoking laws that are considered 100 percent.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
This half of the Twin Cities is home to the Mall of America and the Hennepin Theater District, and this city found a home in the third place slot on the AAFA list of best asthma cities.
With top-notch air quality and pollen scores as well as stringent 100 percent no-smoking laws firmly in place, it is no surprise that this city ranks not only best in the Midwest, but third across the entire nation.
Who Was Worst
While these cities gained high praise from the AAFA, someone also had to be on the other end of the spectrum. St. Louis, Missouri was ranked the asthma capitol of the year in 2009, followed closely by Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Birmingham, Alabama; Chattanooga, Tennessee and Charlotte, North Carolina. Please click on the resources link below to see the complete top 100 AAFA results.
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