THE TRI CITIES REGION HAS BEEN BILLED ONE OF THE WORST AREAS FOR THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM ASTHMA. ACCORDING TO THE ALLERGY AND ASTHMA FOUNDATION OF AMERICA, THIS AREA RANKS 17TH AS THE MOST CHALLENGING PLACE TO LIVE. FOUR OTHER TENNESSEE CITIES WERE NAMED IN THE TOP 25, INCLUDING KNOXVILLE, WHICH WAS NUMBER ONE. THERE WERE NO VIRGINIA CITIES IN THE TOP 25. TWO FACTORS GAVE THE REGION ITS HIGH OVERALL RATING….HIGH POLLEN COUNT AND A HIGH USAGE OF EMERGENCY MEDICATION.