Asthma Support Group

Asthma is a disease of the human respiratory system where the airways narrow, often in response to a "trigger" such as exposure to an allergen, cold air, exercise, or emotional stress. This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, which respond to bronchodilators.

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thp636 12/15/2008

I live in the St.Louis area, one of the asthma capitals of the country. Awhile back I was at DMV to renew my license plates for my car. The line was a little long and predictably all the people caused me to start coughing forcefully.
I had to leave the line and go sit a bit. One fellow on his way out looked at me and said "You should move to Arizona tohelp your breathing problem." I thanked him and replied that Arizona can get awfully hot..and heat causes me a lot of troubles too. He just gave me a knowing look and said "Think about it!"
That started me wondering. Is Arizona really healthier for asthmatics? My feet are firmly planted in the Mississippi mud so I don't anticipate any moves...I was just wondering.

Thanks,
Tom

deleted_user 12/15/2008

i live in NC , another one of the asthma capitals of the world. as for arizona- i don't know too much but i think it depends on what triggers your symptoms- everything triggers mine so i figure i'll just stay where i am.

deleted_user 12/15/2008

They used to recommend Arizona to all asthmatics way back when. I read somewhere that they no longer preach Arizona as a cure all place for asthmatics. Arizona has the dry air that is supposed to help asthma, but it now also has all the other triggers that bother asthmatics.

From what I remember reading...it is best to make your personal surroundings the best oasis for your asthma that you can. There will always be triggers out there, but many doctors are trying to teach their patients how to avoid them and how to lower their exposure in their own personal space(s).

I think it was an article in an asthma newsletter that I receive periodically that had this info.

Robin

deleted_user 12/21/2008

I live in southern California and my friends and family tell me, too, to move to AZ. However, we get dry heat here too and I can't breathe that too well. I'm staying put for awhile! Robin, you are correct, but the dry conditions lead to dusty conditions....no need to say more about that!

htag 12/22/2008

I know of a friend that moved there due to many allergies. I'd be afraid of sand blowing around. Wouldn't that be as bad as CA ash from the fires? hmmm. Maybe I'm just dumb with the sand thing....DOES it blow around? It's much dryer out there! That's a good question!

deleted_user 12/24/2008

I lived in Ontario, Canada all my life, and it is very humid there, and hard to breathe... almost like trying to breathe through pea soup. All my life, I heard, move to Arizona... it is so dry there, your asthma would be so much better. Well, I didnt get there, but I got to the west part of Canada, the prairies, which are very dry and the doctor thought I would be so much better there. I mean how much drier can you get than the prairies? Well, I am worse here. Horses is my worst allergies and this is definetely horse country, not that I dont love horses, they are my passion in life. But it gets windy here and the dust blows around and hay and grass and so I am worse here than with the humidity. I dont think Arizona would be any better. It would have its flaws too.. yes,, I am sure the sand would blow around. I think we just have to make the best of what we have and where we are. We cant just up and move because we hear it is a better place.

deleted_user 12/24/2008

I wonder if any on this board lives in AZ and can give us a first hand account....or have visited AZ. It is time to put this myth or truth to rest!

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