What States would you recommend to live in when sufferering with Asthma? Any to stay away from?

Hi Cindi,

In past decades, doctors did recommend relocation for people with severe asthma or allergies. I remember a neighbor's family during my childhood who moved to Arizona for a few years because of her asthma.

But these days, experts realize that if you have allergic sensitivities in one place, it's likely that you will eventually develop allergic sensitivity to any new place you move to, as well. So, for example, your husband might be allergic to a particular type of tree pollen where you live now, and maybe that tree doesn't grow in Arizona. But sooner or later, if you moved to Arizona, your husband might just substitute the original allergy with one to some other type of tree.

Still, there are some considerations you might want to think about. Dust mites and mold spores both thrive in humid environments, so if you're allergic to dust mites or mold, moving to a dry climate like that in the southwestern U.S. might have some benefits.

There tend to be less pollens in the air near the seashore and up in the mountains as well. So, if pollen is your husband's allergic trigger, then he might see some improvement by moving to one of those environments.

Poor air quality can be another potent asthma irritant. So if that bothers your husband, then moving away from big cities and areas where there are frequent wildfires in the summer might help.

There's really no way to be sure, though. As I said, often a new allergen comes to light in the new place that just takes over as a trigger. I can tell you from my own experience, moving from the humid, congested, polluted midAtlantic region of the U.S. to the clear air of the Rocky Mountain west had NO impact, one way or the other, on my allergies. They're still with me, in all their glory, year round.

So, my advice is to move to a place that will make you and your family happy.

Good luck!

Kathi