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Asthma and Geography

Dear Dr, Kagen,

Northwestern Ohio and Michigan have been shown to be some of the least "friendly" environments for those of us who suffer from asthma and allergies. But what areas of the United States would make the most desirable homes for us, in terms of climate, production of allergens, and pollution? Thank you,

John W.

Dear John,

Thanks for asking about allergy safe environments.

We humans tend to relocate our environments with us when we move which makes it difficult to create and live in an allergy friendly area. Tucson Arizona for example used to have a relatively low aeroallergen climate until thousands of people from elsewhere brought in pollen producing trees and planted grasses to make the area more "pleasant".

Today it is difficult to find a perfect place to live if you have severe allergy to outdoor allergens. The environments found in New Mexico, Nevada and the Pacific Northwest are several of the areas with lower levels of outdoor aeroallergens.

A good start to finding a 'good' place for you to live in is to ask your own Allergy Specialist if your symptoms require you to really move. Rarely is it necessary to relocte due to uncontrolled allergy or asthma symptoms these days, especially with all the newer treatments available.

I hope this brief information is useful to you.

Good luck.

Steve Kagen, M.D.
Allernet.com