General discussion

I found a great resource online at the Mayo Clinic that helps you determine the level at which you are "in control" of your asthma. It takes just a few minutes to complete:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asthma-control-test/AS00031

A lot of evidence seems to support theories that air pollutants worsen allergies and asthma. And because the air is dirtier in large metropolitan cities, studies have shown that it’s city dwellers who are most affected.

Here's a few tips for asthmas suffers living in cities with high pollution:

Limit a child's activity to indoors on high-pollution days;
Limit activity to mornings if you must be outside, as ozone peaks around 4 or 5 p.m.

Also, people who live near freeways tend to have higher levels of asthma and allergies.

I don't know if it's just me, but it seems like I've either heard or read about more kids being diagnosed with asthma than ever before.

Two of my kids have mild asthma, but interestingly enough, it started in both of them right after we moved to Arizona from Texas. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with our desert climate -- the dust in the air and the high levels of pollution we have here in metro Phoenix.

Anybody else see a rise in asthma in kids (or people in general)?

Kristin Park
http://ppdsurvivor.blogspot.com