Asthma in Colorado - Compiled Thread (Denver, Boulder: mover, how much, living in)

[Mike from back east]

We've discussed asthma before here in the CO forums.

Use the Search this Forum tool with keyword asthma to find the info.

[ColoradoPro]

Originally Posted by jenlyn

Wondering if anyone has heard if the Denver area is not such a great place for asthma sufferers? My 4 yr old has asthma and it seemed to get worse after moving to Phoenix. We heard that sometimes the altitude in Denver can be hard on people. Do most people that are there for a visit actually feel different because of it??

I for one have asthma, and I don't have any problems with it. Mine is exercise / allergy induced, so as long as I keep that under control I'm fine. To answer your question "Do most people that are here for a visiting actually feel different because of it?", in my opinion the answer is wholeheartedly no, but everyone is different and I can't absolutely 100%, but I know from everyone that I have ever met / talked to from out of state that they were NOT affected by the altitude. Now if you were to take your son up to the mountains to go hiking / skiing than the results would be a lot more noticeable, but as for the city itself, you should probably be ok.

Someone mentioned the National Jewish center, I personally went there for treatment and know that it is top-notch. Also don't forget we have the Children's Hospital which is nationally recognized for their work.

[josher_m]

Definitely make the move!! We just moved from Phoenix last Nov and our 4 yo was on a nebulizer while we lived in Phoenix. We were all sick all the time, run down from allergies and asthma. We were spending close to $500/mo in medical bills and allergies meds each month. We were taking 3-4 different meds daily just to breath in Phoenix. It was awful.
We have family in Phoenix but breathing and our health was priority. I didn't want my son to miss playing outside with his friends at preschool. Many days he had to stay inside because the air quality was too bad in Phoenix.

Fast forward ..we've been in Denver for just over 6 months. He's only had to use his nebulizer ONCE, and that was when he got sick. We've only been sick once or twice, as opposed to all the time. None of us are even taking our allergy meds anymore. My husband doesn't go thru his inhalers as much. It is spring and we are noticing some allergy symptoms now, but it's certainly more livable as opposed to year round in Phoenix.

Definitely better breathing air here . .no doubt about it!!

Sherrie

[High Altitude]

I moved from Socal, a couple miles from the coast, to Outside Denver in Evergreen. Our house is at 8,000'. My son's asthma has been so much better in Colorado that he hardly ever needs treatments now. There was an instant improvement once we got here.

[janetjanetbobanet]

Originally Posted by jenlyn

Wondering if anyone has heard if the Denver area is not such a great place for asthma sufferers? My 4 yr old has asthma and it seemed to get worse after moving to Phoenix. We heard that sometimes the altitude in Denver can be hard on people. Do most people that are there for a visit actually feel different because of it??

We moved to Phoenix when my son was small and he developed asthma there. He usually always had an attack after a dust storm. If you can live more on the outskirts of Denver where you don't have to be in so much smog it should be better than Phoenix. The altitude in Denver itself is not so much of a problem.

[2bindenver]

We have the premier asthma hospital in Denver. National Jewish Medical and Research Center - National Jewish Medical and Research Center

You need to come for a visit.

We have had this discussion before - use the search tool on the top near the center of the page to see what was said.

[kswen]

Hi! I was just reading this post and I wanted to correct some of the misinformation that I saw. We lived in Colorado for a year and a half. During that time my daughter and I developed breathing problems. Prior to this we lived in Florida and had no breathing problems. We were in perfect health before we moved there. We went to the best allergy and asthma specialist in Denver. He said that Denver has as many polluted air days as Los Angeles and that 1 out of 15 people in Denver has allergies and asthma. The air is NOT cleaner in Denver. Many days you cannot see the mountains and the smog hangs over the city. We ended up moving back to Florida and my daughter and I are breathing perfectly and do not need any of the medications that we needed in Colorado. I just wanted to make this clear to anyone that is considering moving here.

[sberdrow]

For some reason, I feel much better here. First time I have been able to take a deep breath in so long. This visit is going to turn into a move. Its the 3rd time I have experienced when visiting. I lived in Washington where I had mild asthma, moved to Texas where I think it just about killed me. I came to colorado to see some mountains (which I miss bad) and presto, I can breath. I have not used my meds once....WOW. can anybody please explain this to me, because I don't get it. Is it the dry air. It was Humid as all get out in Texas. Does humid weather make it worse?

[Katiana]

Is it the dry air. It was Humid as all get out in Texas. Does humid weather make it worse?

No, no and NO! Dry air is bad for asthma. I don't know why you find it better here. I would bet that if you moved here permanently that would not be the case. Humidity is one treatment for asthma. It may be the mods that go with the humidity in Texas that are a problem.

[sberdrow]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

No, no and NO! Dry air is bad for asthma. I don't know why you find it better here. I would bet that if you moved here permanently that would not be the case. Humidity is one treatment for asthma. It may be the mods that go with the humidity in Texas that are a problem.

Yeah I have read that, but you add that swampy air with my asthma, and I feel like Im drowning. If I don't take a 24 hour prevent med, I have to used my abluterol spay at least 6-7 times a day in Texas, 3-4 times a day in Oregon and Washington, 2 times a day in so cal, but here, I spent 5 days, went home, 3 weeks, went home, and so far 2 days b4 going home and have not used it but once, and that was right after I left Kansas in East Colorado. Never in this Denver Area. There must be others like me out here. It seems directly related to the amount of Humidity the state gets. Oregon and Wa are a little more humid than SO cal.