my 3 year old son has got asthma- we have not decided where in usa we would migrate to yet. with his disease in mind wht city/states to avoid?
thanks

That question cannot be answered until you know what triggers his asthma.

We have different pollens here that he is naive to, so anywhere the plant pollens could be an issue, if that's a trigger for him.

Areas with really high pollution would seem logical to avoid - LA for example (I think). I remember in Phoenix, the haze from the mining would settle down in the vally over Phoenix.

So perhaps try to find an online site that talks about air quality in general for different parts of the country.

If his asthma is severe - somewhere near a hospital with good pediatrics dept.

The good news is that in the USA, unlike the UK, docs will actually take asthma seriously. Expect to be referred to an allergist and have him tested for exactly what causes his asthma. And then you can expect your kid to actually get treated for asthma, rather than be handed 2 or 3 inhalers with some muted muttering about pollution and keeping your windows closed, followed by "don't bother me again." [/rant]

Copper perhaps - up by Globe.

Or are they closed these days, it's been a while...

Edit: yep, copper it is - and apparently many still operating

http://www.go-arizona.com/Globe/

Nope -- they're still running. But I don't think they're the major contributor to pollution in the valley somehow since they're 100 miles away and the wind rarely blows from east to west.

It will depend on what triggers the asthma, which you should get investigated as best you can over there or over here. Pollen is a common trigger, but it also depends on what types, etc.

Many people settled in the desert SW specifically to avoid pollen (i.e. little pollen in the desert) but then they planted flowers, watered lawns, etc and things took a slight turn to the worse. That plus CA pollution.

I've two friends who grew up with asthma but have slowly been able to put away the inhalers (except for extreme emergencies). There is a lot of research going on into asthma over here so you might find a good study to get involved in.

Dunno - I remember coming down from the mountains, and could see the haze in the valley.

Folks attributed it to the mines - maybe they were wrong.

There is a list here of the worst cities in America for people with asthma. Its from 2004 though so 4 years out of date, but may give you a starting point for your research.

New home building (now stopped) and a million or so SUV and truck drivers living in cookie-cutter McMansions miles away from their work and commuting endlessly round the valley would be my best guess.

thank you sue for the list- i will refer to tht before choosing a city.

as far as investigating asthma in nhs- handed 2 inhalers is wht we got. try and see how he responds. i can see the logic behind it- saving money. it will be difficult to find wht he is allergic to without allergy tests - which i doubt will be done under nhs.

Is the diagnosis definitely asthma and what tests were run to diagnose it?
At that age it is possibly RAD (Reactive Airway Disease). There is a difference.

Read this article:

http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/TOPIC363.HTM

only if you've got good medical insurance to cover it...

do we think that him having asthma will affect medical insurance permiums. we seem to be using up the inhalers frequently in uk. i wonder how much will it cost to look after him in the usa? his symptoms have not been serious so far- he has wht they called a cough variant asthma.