[ant7jen]

My wife has some sinus problems here in Tennessee. Here head gets really clogged up and hard to breath at times and causes headaches. She didn't really get trouble till she moved up here from Florida and she was wanting me to ask if people with known sinus trouble that has been or living in New Zealand noticed a difference if any. Any help would be appreciated.
:)

[thewoodies]

I would also like to know ? Thanks

[Rabbit]

The air quality in NZ is second to none. And there is an opportunity to improve the diet - better fresh greens (very important), fruit, wine etc.
I have recently returned to a rural area in the UK, and a lot of my afflictions have returned that have been positively absent in NZ.
Though I did find bouts of the Flu and colds more aggressive in NZ, perhaps not used to the local germs.
The hard water is the most challenging in terms of my return to the UK (my local area); I find the water here in the UK very hard. Slightly acidic, and a lot softer and more tasteful in NZ.
The other thing is the coffee, the NZ flat white is far superior to a UK cup of coffee without any additives - instant coffee (Dow and Egbert’s in the UK) does not make me feel well...
In Summary, I find the diet and lifestyle in NZ less acidic and I think this helps.
Ultimately, it can be about body, mind and soul, including the environment and a combination of these things.

So perhaps a question of balance?

In terms of NZ, make absolutely sure you avoid mould spores, which are common in many rentals with poor heating or damp. So try and find one with central heating.


Rabbit.

[martin&maria]

Hi i am quite prone to sinus infections,however,this winter (2nd 1) i was in agony with it my teeth where particularly sore. Went to the docs and given some antibiotics and a nasal spray, the doc did say he suffers quite bad with his sinus since moving to chch too. I live in a new house so no cold damp problems for me thank goodness. Like i said i did get this before coming to nz just one of those things!!

[Georgebulldog]

Touch wood I've been quite good so far, early days still.
I have rhineitus (sp?) & I've been able to breath great so far, all that Welly wind blowing it clear :D

[victoria]

My husband suffers with sinuses & was particularly bad in England. Believe or not but the sulphuric air in Rotarua instantly took it away.Generally he's been free of the condition. Unfortunately it can come back after he's been scrambling about under houses or in the lofts as he's a plumber it's difficult to avoid these types of irritants. My advice would be to avoid living under a house or in the loft.

[nickydwuk]

Doesn't bode well for me then. I suffer with my sinuses - I had surgery about 4 years ago to clear them but I still get the odd bout. I am just finishing a course of antibiotics now. I was hoping the clearer air would help. Just a matter of wait & see!!

[ourquest]

So try and find one with central heating.


Actually, having lots of sun is a more fundamental way of ensuring the house is not damp. Choose a rental (or purchase) which faces north and has good sight of the sky. Damp houses usually smell damp, too, so that is a good indication.

Wherever you are or move to, reducing mucus-producing foods in your diet such as bread and milk can help a lot against sinus symptoms. It can happen that in a move to a new area your diet changes and suddenly an underlying sinus issue produces noticable symptoms. Likewise a change the other way could ease symptoms. My son has a dust mite allergy (for example) which has been specifically diagnosed using scratch testing and results in a running nose, but avoidance of milk reduces the symptoms significantly (although he has no measurable intolerance to milk) even where control of dust mites is not possible.

[ourquest]

I had surgery about 4 years ago to clear them

Judging by your profile picture the surgery was extreme! :laugh

[KerryS]

My son has a dust mite allergy (for example) which has been specifically diagnosed using scratch testing and results in a running nose, but avoidance of milk reduces the symptoms significantly (although he has no measurable intolerance to milk) even where control of dust mites is not possible.


This is probably because milk is very mucus forming, and so elimination of milk eases the amount of mucus, and relieves his symptoms.

I suffer really badly from sinus problems in NZ, but never had any problems in the UK. Mine is seasonal though, and the main cause is pollen - especially from Pohutakawa trees. (Stupid me to have moved to a house with one in the garden!)
I've had sinus drilling to ease the pain and pressure build up, but it had no effect on my sinuses, and means that I now snore terribly instead.
Thankfully I can combat mine with a good dose of antihistimines to stop the pollen affecting me too badly, and if I get any infection then a round of anti-bs usually works.

[sweetpea]

The air quality in NZ is second to none.

The air quality in NZ is generally quite good; it is worth noting that Christchurch has a winter air quality problem - see http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/christchurch+air+quality+study+supports+tougher+ru les or http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Christchurch/SOEMonitoring/AirQuality/ - so you may want to reconsider that city if you have breathing difficulties.


In terms of NZ, make absolutely sure you avoid mould spores, which are common in many rentals with poor heating or damp. So try and find one with central heating.

This is really, really good advice.

[Spooky]

Mine is seasonal though, and the main cause is pollen - especially from Pohutakawa trees. (Stupid me to have moved to a house with one in the garden!)

Ooh useful info! What are some other trees/ plants to avoid if one is sensitive to pollen and wheeze easily?

[rowells]

I am another sinus sufferer here in the UK.
Re Christchurch, is the air quality quite poor across the region or just in the city area? How would we be for example 30 minutes ffrom city in more rural /town setting?

[nickydwuk]

Judging by your profile picture the surgery was extreme! :laugh

Thats why I daren't have it done again - god knows what I would look like then:eek:

[Mrs Pony]

I think OH is allergic to our condo... he was fine in NZ...