When you have severe asthma, it can be difficult to breathe at times – let alone think about planning a fun vacation. Visions of camping in the desert under the stars are clouded by thoughts of coughing all night as you breathe in dust, and excitement about a dog sledding adventure in the Arctic is quickly replaced with images of having to scramble for your inhaler mid-ride. The truth is, if you have severe uncontrolled asthma, it may lead you to believe you’re better off not traveling at all.
However, travel can be possible when you are prepared. While it may feel easier to stay home in a familiar environment, there are numerous ways to travel sensibly when you have severe asthma. For starters, you can work with your doctor or specialist to create a plan to help manage the condition both at home and on the road.
And while having a management plan to help keep your disease controlled is a critical first step, choosing where to travel is definitely next on the list. Picking an asthma-friendly destination can help ensure you travel wisely and are able to enjoy your trip. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America people with severe asthma should avoid places where the Air Quality Index (AQI) is 101 or higher because the air pollutants can trigger flare-ups. This tends to rule out extremely high-altitude destinations, smoggy or polluted areas, remote outdoor locations that revolve around campfires, and exceedingly cold places. Check out the global Real-Time Air Quality Index to get all the air quality intel you need to make informed choices.
Bottom line? While it can be possible to travel anywhere, as long as you’re prepared and have an action plan in place, try starting with these asthma-friendly vacation spots when planning your next adventure:
1 - Honolulu, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i
We don’t need to convince you to visit Honolulu. The Hawaiian capital has incredible beaches, tasty food, and a beautiful culture to immerse yourself in on your next trip. But for those with severe asthma, the seaside city also offers up another gift: very clean air. In fact, it’s actually tied for the cleanest city in terms of year-round particle pollution on the American Lung Association’s State of the Air list. This means it is one of the top spots with the least amount of particle pollution of anywhere in the United States, so you can focus more on exploring and less on symptoms while on your trip. Need some suggestions for what to do while you’re there? Check out our guide to Honolulu, which includes where to eat, stay, and play for a cultural getaway.
2 - A wellness retreat
Packing your bags for a relaxing weekend of moving and eating well is not a hard sell, but in case you need convincing, focusing on your overall well-being can help anyone who may also be managing a chronic condition. And with more wellness tourism options than ever before (it’s one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors, according to the Global Wellness Institute), you should be able to find one you love, whether you want to focus on all of the massages and facials or get into a more ~spiritual realm~ through meditation and journaling. Need some inspo? Our list of the best wellness retreats around the world has all of our favorite options.
3 - North Carolina
There’s no shortage of reasons to visit this beautiful southern state, which is known for its gorgeous beaches, fresh nature (think all-day picnics and watering holes), and lively music and arts scene. But here’s one of its lesser known appeals: The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America published its September 2023 Asthma Capitals Report, and three out of the top 10 cities with “better than average” asthma prevalence were located in North Carolina. Two of which, Winston-Salem and Durham, have both “better than average” asthma prevalence and emergency department asthma visits. May we suggest our North Carolina guides to get your trip planning going?
4 - Iceland
Instead of visiting this otherworldly Nordic country during frosty winter months, consider crossing Iceland off your bucket list in the summer, when you’ll be able to reap the benefits of a trip that is both awe-inspiring and asthma-friendly. What’s more, according to this Environmental Performance Index from Yale, Iceland is actually the number one country for clean air in the world. Another bonus: Thanks to an abundance of gorgeous waterfalls, healing mineral hot springs, and stunning natural scenery, Iceland is also brimming over with road trip potential. When you go during the summer months, you’ll be able to experience the famous midnight sun – plus, it’s whale and puffin season, so be prepared to see some serious cuteness. And more ideas on what to do, check out our ultimate guide to Iceland.
5 - Norway
Another top destination on Yale’s Environmental Performance Index list, Norway—which came in at number five—can be an ideal destination for people with severe asthma. The air is likely so fresh and clean because the country is quite literally surrounded by incredible nature, from the gorgeous fjords to the beautiful mountains. The great outdoors is so synonymous with Norway that Norwegians even live by a cultural philosophy known as friluftsliv, which translates to “the fresh air life.” It basically means that they try to spend as much of their day outside as possible, whether that’s by walking to do their errands instead of driving or opting for an activity in nature instead of happy hours after work. Not sure where to go in Norway? While you seriously can’t go wrong—the whole country is gorgeous!—we’ve got lots of helpful Norway content to help you choose the best spots for you.
Want to learn more about a potential treatment option for severe asthma? Looking to find an asthma specialist? Visit AirBetweenUsAll.com for more information and resources.