D.C. is the fifth most challenging place for asthmatics to live, according to a recent study done by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Washington jumped from No. 50 to No. 5 on the "Asthma Capitals" list. The ranking is based on 12 questions about topics such as annual air quality, pollen level, poverty and school inhaler access laws.
The city scored worse on the estimated prevalence of asthma, annual air quality, public smoking laws, school inhaler access laws and asthma specialists per patient categories.
Mike Tringale, an asthma foundation spokesperson, said the new ranking reflects a lack of improvement more than increased failure. While other cities improved and moved down in rank, D.C. has risen.
"It's not because of things D.C. is doing," Tringale said. "It's things D.C. is not doing."
Tringale said two major areas the city has failed to improve in are public smoking laws and inhaler access laws. The only D.C. area that improved public smoking laws was Montgomery County in Maryland.
"Most cities are passing or considering public smoking laws. Most states are protecting rights to carry inhalers," Tringale said.
In D.C. and Virginia, inhalers in public schools are treated as controlled substances, according to Tringale. They are locked in the school nurse's office, and students are not allowed to carry them.
Tringale said this is an unsafe policy. "It's not like a one-time medicine. This is a chronic disease that requires constant medication," he said.
Asthma is the No. 1 chronic disease among kids in America and the No. 1 reason for children's absence from school.
"Asthma affects 20 million people," Tringale said. "People don't realize how huge that is. It's a quiet disease and we want to make some noise"
