Asthma, the chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, affects nearly 26 million Americans, including nearly 5 million younger than age 18. African-Americans are two to three times more likely to die from asthma than other racial and ethnic groups, and black children are twice as likely to have asthma as their white counterparts.

Some cities are harder on asthma sufferers than others. According to the “2012 Asthma Capitals” report from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the worst places to live with asthma were:

1. Memphis, Tennessee

2. New Haven, Connecticut

3. Knoxville, Tennessee

4. Pittsburgh

5. Chattanooga, Tennessee

6. Hartford, Connecticut

7. St. Louis

8. Oklahoma City

9. McAllen, Texas

10. Allentown, Pennsylvania

Though we’re not suggesting you move, the best places to live with asthma were:

1. San Francisco

2. Seattle, Washington

3. Portland, Oregon

4. Greenville, South Carolina

5. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

6. Kansas City, Missouri

7. Austin, Texas

8. Omaha, Nebraska

9. Charleston, South Carolina

10. Des Moines, Iowa

Learn more about the best and worst cities for asthma at BlackHealthMatters.Com.

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