By my second week in Flagstaff, Arizona, something miraculous happened that no health care provider, or pharmaceutical company was able to deliver: my asthma disappeared. Being my whole life on maximum dosages of inhaled asthma medicines, this was nothing short of amazing to me. The question is.. "Why?". And when an answer is found, can it provide valuable information to others, to help relieve in the suffering of millions of asthmatics across the country. While my allergies did not go away, they no longer triggered asthma as well.
I broke down the possible variables of what may have caused the difference. I am from San Francisco.
1. Air Pollution/Particulates (Man-made)
2. Pollen
3. Humidity
4. Altitude
5. Air Pollution/Particulates (Natural to the environment)
What is also amazing to me is that I haven't been able to find, despite asking many nurses, doctors, pulminary specialists, etc., any clear data on how each of these factors affects asthmatics individually, as a whole when air pollution (specifically the individual pollutants) are taken into account. I doubt many doctors are aware of all the chemicals floating around in our air, and exactly how they affect us. They do however, have excellent training and knowledge of which medicines can better help us function in our environments. The purpose of this writing is to break down as many variables and factors, from humidity levels, to pollens, to air pollution, to try and find any leading causes in the transformation of being asthma and medicine free in Flagstaff. Hopefully this will provide other people with options of where to live, without having to spend the time and money I am spending, moving city to city, to see how my asthma and respiratory system functions. And even better would be the ability to identify and key factors that act as triggers to being in an asthmatic state.
If you have any valuable or interesting information please send it my way. I will also post any interesting articles on asthma research.
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