Chattanooga among worst for asthma

Chattanooga is among the worst cities in the nation for asthma sufferers, according to a new study.

In its annual rankings, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America places Chattanooga as the fourth worst city for asthma in America. Chattanooga is among a half dozen Mid-South cities listed among the foundation’s 10 worst U.S. cities because of relatively high levels of allergens and air pollutants.

Asthma and allergy specialists say it’s nothing to sneeze at, although many of the 20 million Americans with asthma often do.

Dr. Curt Chaffin, a physician with Asthma Immunology and Allergy Associates — Chattanooga’s biggest medical practice treating asthma sufferers — said the temperate climate and diverse vegetation boosts local pollen levels. The industrial and mountainous environment in Chattanooga also creates more air pollution, he said.

“This whole region is a really tough place to live with allergies and asthma,” he said. “About 70 to 80 percent of the people with asthma will have an allergic trigger, and the high pollen counts and climate here tend to boost the amount of allergens in the air.”

Knoxville, which was rated as the worst place in the country for asthma in a similar ranking last year, fell to No. 7 as St. Louis, Mo., was rated as the worst for those with asthma in the latest ranking.

The annual city ratings, funded by a grant from the drug company AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, is based upon 12 factors, including air pollution, pollen, indoor smoking and medical services in each area. Chattanooga rated worse than average for its air quality, limited smoke-free laws and use of controller medications by asthma sufferers.

Kyle Kurita, a 27-year-old Brainerd resident, said he has suffered from asthma since he was a boy living in different cities across Tennessee.

“I’ve traveled out west to drier climates, and when I come back to Tennessee with its summertime heat and humidity it’s immediately noticeable that it’s often harder to breathe,” he said.

Mike Tringale, director of external affairs for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, said asthma triggers are present in every U.S. city and account for an estimated 1.8 million hospital emergency room visits a year.

“There is no way for asthma patients to escape their disease, but no matter where they live, patients can work with their physicians to find ways to effectively control their symptoms,” he said.