ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Three New York cities are among the most challenging places to live with asthma in the nation. That’s according to a new report from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
The report looks at the 100 largest cities in the country. Of those, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany landed in the top 20, with Rochester ranking as the third most challenging place to live with asthma.
Experts from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America say one in 12 people are living with asthma in the U.S.
Three key measures are used to determine the rankings in the report. They are asthma prevalence, asthma-related emergency room visits and asthma mortality.
September marks the start of peak asthma season. Pediatric ER visits and hospitalizations tend to increase during this time. Mitchell Grayson, one of the authors of the report, says a lot of that comes from the challenges that go with kids heading back to school.
“They’re going to these school buildings that tend to be old, not necessarily have good air handling systems, so they’re exposed to poor air quality,” said Grayson. “They’re also exposed to diesel exhaust from idling buses and cars. Also, exposure to fumes from harsh cleaning chemicals. All that indoor environment is a trigger for their asthma.”
There is a silver lining to having this data — this report shows healthcare providers what regions need more care in and how to focus on the best treatments.
Dr. Emily Weis is the clinical director of allergy and immunology at the University of Rochester. She says this can also lead to more research opportunities for specialists. Weis believes reports like this help open up the conversations around asthma and the factors doctors look for when making a diagnosis.
“What are the exposures? What is the family history? Are there any factors that may give a higher risk for developing allergies and asthma over time?” said Weis. “We are always asking things about food sensitivities and eczema and nasal sensitivities that can lead along the atopic march to an end point of asthma.”
As asthma season ramps up, experts suggest getting your seasonal vaccines against the flu, COVID-19 and RSV. They also say it’s a good time to set up an asthma action plan to review what medications you might need depending on symptoms.