Where is the best place for people with asthma to live?
It is often assumed that it is better for people with asthma to live in a rural area rather than in an inner city. However, research has shown that even in the least polluted parts of the UK, such as the Scottish Highlands, the proportion of people with asthma is about the same as that elsewhere. There is no best place to live for everyone with asthma. Living somewhere where a person comes into contact with fewer of their triggers is a good idea, if they can be identified and avoided. (A trigger is anything that irritates the airways and causes the symptoms of asthma to appear.) Some triggers can occur in any part of the country, eg viral infections or cigarette smoke, while others may vary locally, eg air quality or pollen. More information on possible local triggers is available. Air quality Check local levels of air pollution by contacting the Air Pollution Information Service, run by the UK Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DeFRA), or on Teletext page 156. Pollen Pol
