by Kris Kennedy

Created on: July 06, 2010

Worst Asthma Cities

Washington State has an asthma problem in its two climate zones. The wet western Washington area and the drier eastern Washington area provide separate asthma challenges. Seattle and Tri-cities Washington both proved worst citieies for asthmtic patients.

Western Washington

Washington State weather is most likely known as wet because Washington State's major city, Seattle, has a record rainfall. The drizzle keeps the land wet most of the year. The wet soils grow mold. The mold frustrates breathing in asthma patients. Since the dry month occurs for only about 30 days in July a long asthma free period fails to materialize. Does this mean that the whole State of Washington offers no area for asthmatic individuals?  Part of the state has a drier climate. Does that mean that asthmatic patients can cross a mountain range and live in the eastern portion of the state and minimize asthmatic suffering.

Eastern Washington

Individuals move to the Tri-Cities Washington because of the dry climate and moderate season changes. The dry climate helps individual with arthritis, but later the individual might realize another condition surfaces. New residents soon realize an allergy problem. A history of the health conditions within the area remained hidden due to the small population through the first half the 20th century. The community's population has only been growing since the 1940s when it became the location of the Hanford Reservation for the Manhattan product. Before than it was a small farming community.

Allergies

Workers came from all over the country and never knew of allergies. Soon after arriving in the area, the individuals started experiencing running eyes and nose and some breathing problems.  Many with asthma learned late that this was not area for them to live. The patients were able to handle health conditions in the previous locations and never knew of any allergies. 

The drier climate of the Eastern portion of the State of Washington appeared beneficial for many health conditions. The legacy of the area as farmland has placed a lot of pollen into the air. The allergies made the asthma worse. The area is second to another area in the State of Washington for the production of wheat which is planted twice a year. In the dry summer months the fields are burned off to prepare for the next planting. This smoke adds to the air problems for the asthmatic patient. 

Also, outside the city of Pasco Washington a pulp mill operates. The pulp mill makes pulp products for paper and other wood byproducts. The plant places fumes into the area and since it comes from plant life it creates problems for allergies and asthma.

Washington State is a pleasant place to live, but the dry portion and wet portion offers challenges to asthmatic patients. With the state’s other advantages, residence might be worth dealing with the asthma through medication.. Maybe you can live Spokane Washington with a longer drier period with a more extreme winter.

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