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Washington D.C., September 7, 2023 \u2014 Today, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) released its 2023 Asthma Capitals\u2122 report, revealing the most challenging places to live with asthma. The report analyzes data from the 100 most populated cities in the continental United States to determine a city\u2019s ranking. This year, Allentown, PA<\/strong> takes the top spot.<\/p>\n The report uses three health outcomes to establish a ranking for each city: asthma prevalence, emergency department (ED) visits for asthma, and deaths due to asthma. The report also discusses risk factors that contribute to these outcomes: poverty, air quality, access to specialist medical care, pollen allergy, medicine use, tobacco policies, and lack of health insurance.<\/p>\n The top 20 Asthma Capitals\u2122 for 2023 are: <\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ module_class=”blog-single” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#008C99″ custom_margin=”||2%||false|false” custom_padding=”2%||2%||true|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”|||30px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n 1. Allentown, PA [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”|||29px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n 8. Philadelphia, PA [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”|||30px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 15. New York, NY [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Content Row” module_class=”blog-single” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Post Content” module_class=”secondary-intro” _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ text_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” custom_margin=”||3%||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Allentown is the most challenging city in the U.S. to live with asthma due to its higher-than-average asthma prevalence, higher-than-average ED visits for asthma, and high deaths due to asthma. To see the complete, 100-city list ranking visit asthmacapitals.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The Asthma Capitals report acknowledges that where a person lives can significantly impact their health. Social, economic, and environmental disadvantages play a role in determining asthma outcomes. Many of the top Asthma Capitals are also facing major challenges and inequities that lead to health disparities.<\/p>\n \u201cThis report highlights the major risk factors for those who have asthma,\u201d said Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of AAFA. \u201cAAFA\u2019s Asthma Capitals report offers insight into how poverty, uninsured rates, and air quality impact the quality of life for the 27 million people in the United States living with asthma. Understanding where these risk factors are hitting folks the hardest can help us develop long-term solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n The month of September, also known as Asthma Peak Month, sees more asthma exacerbations and emergency department visits than any other month. The third week of the month \u2013 known as Asthma Peak Week \u2013 is often the worst. Several factors, including ragweed pollen peaking, cold and flu season starting, and children going back to school, create a perfect storm for people with asthma in the United States. But reduced asthma rates and deaths are possible. The Asthma Capitals report highlights where we can focus our efforts for healthier environments and communities.<\/p>\n \u201cSeptember is a particularly challenging time to live with asthma,\u201d said Melanie Carver, chief mission officer at AAFA. \u201cAAFA\u2019s report not only outlines the conditions impacting asthma this month such as increased pollen presence and respiratory illnesses, but also points to ways to help manage asthma. Additionally, it is imperative that policymakers know that affordable and accessible health care, clean air, and economic stability are essential tools for helping people manage and control their asthma.\u201d<\/p>\n For the latest AAFA news and resources go to: aafa.org<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Press Contact” _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ link_font=”||||on|||#008c99|” link_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#008c99″ header_3_font_size=”28px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Press Contact:<\/strong> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”About AAFA” _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ link_font=”||||on|||#008c99|” link_text_color=”#008c99″ link_line_height=”1.7em” ul_line_height=”1.7em” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#008c99″ header_3_font_size=”28px” background_color=”#F5EDDF” custom_padding=”4%|4%|4%|4%|true|true” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n About the Research<\/strong><\/p>\n AAFA publishes the Asthma Capitals\u2122 report to raise awareness about the nationwide impacts of asthma. The report analyzes data from across the continental United States and ranks the 100 largest cities where it is challenging to live with asthma. The report ranks cities by the most critical of health outcomes \u2013 asthma prevalence, emergency department visits due to asthma attacks, and asthma mortality. The outcomes are not weighted equally. The report also examines asthma risk factors that influence the outcomes. Visit asthmacapitals.com<\/a> to see the full list of 100 cities, methodology, and to learn more about asthma management.<\/p>\n
2. Lakeland, FL
3. Charleston, SC
4. Cleveland, OH
5. Detroit, MI
6. Poughkeepsie, NY
7. Richmond, VA<\/p>\n
9. Fresno, CA
10. Rochester, NY
11. Columbus, OH
12. Baltimore, MD
13. St. Louis, MO
14. Orlando, FL<\/p>\n
16. Harrisburg, PA
17. McAllen, TX
18. Omaha, NE
19. Dayton, OH
20. Greenville, SC<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/aafa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/2023-asthma-capitals-top-10-map-SM.png\")
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Andy Spears
Public Affairs Manager
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
media@aafa.org<\/p>\n