Never heard of asthma? You lived on another planet. I remember schoolmates (c. 1930) who suffered, often having to receive care from the school nurse. This was in the desert southwest; clean air at the time- I think that the schoolmates with the problem came to benefit from a clean environment.
(Both environment and genetics contribute. The interplay seems to be a factor in many allergies.)

Many with tuberculosis also came to the high southwest, and in my town there was a 'sanitorium' devoted to their treatment.