[Tia Maria]

Anecdotally I've heard that NZ is quite bad for asthma, is there any truth to this?

Have any people coming to NZ developed asthma when they didn't have it before? Or anyone found their asthma worse?

I know a few of my friends have had children who have developed night time coughs which turn out to be asthma.

I've also talked to people who have had their asthma improve, they seem to mainly put this down to the sea air and less pollution. Anyone else found this?

Cheers

Tia

[mcacmartin]

Well, I'm hoping it's the latter for my son....I'm really hoping a small town relatively close to the sea will help his asthma. I'd rather not have to deal with it getting worse :uhoh

[dharder]

Anecdotally I've heard that NZ is quite bad for asthma, is there any truth to this?

Yes, I think the rate is much higher than in other countries, certainly than the UK, which was pretty bad.

Allergies as well are worse, especially since there are some plants here that you don't have anywhere else, so you won't know that you are allergic till you get here.

Personally, I was extremely worried about this, and it was very much an issue when deciding to get central heating.

We had one child with Asthma, diagnosed at under a year in the UK and controlled with inhalers (that he takes daily). His asthma is not worse, but we keep a close eye on it.

One of my daughters has now her own inhaler and needed it a couple of times, not permanently, but she didn't have issues beforehand. The other son has quite bad allergies that he didn't have before.

They are all prone to breathing issues getting worse quickly here, and the night time coughing has definitely increased over our time here and is worse than in the UK.

The paediatrician at starship that we went to see said that it gets worse for a lot of children emigrating here, since they are not used to all the stuff in the air, the colder moldier houses and the different plants.

But as I said above, the child that I was most worried about since he had asthma before has not gotten any worse.

Daniela

[pleccy2000]

I've not taken my ventolin once since moving here. used it all the time in London.

[Kea]

A pal of mine, with a PhD in a science subject, uses nettle tea for her sons asthma. It was prescribed by a doctor in the Netherlands and she has used it since he was 1 or 2. I figure it can't hurt so may be worth a try.

Also, coughing is a symptom of asthma that you may not have noticed. I have mild asthma but have always wondered whether the diagnosis threshold has become lower over the last few years. It's much better to treat and have the medication on hand than feel panicky if you need it though.

[925dancer]

On the whole, my asthma is better BUT the damp houses and lack of central heating certainly makes any flare ups worse in winter.

Allergies are much of a muchness, I'm pretty much allergic to all pollens, animals and dust. Doesn't stop me having cats though :laugh

[Duncan74]

I have pretty mild exercise induced asthma. Controlled with Singul-air tablets and a brown powder preventer inhaler. I was worried about the anecdotal tales of it being bad over there, especially as pollen tends to make it worse. However, when I was over there then I raced the Ironman triathlon, canoed the Whanganui and did the Tongariro crossing with no problems at all. Kept inhalers handy, but don't remember needing them. That was in February / March, so potentially it could be worse (for me) in NZ spring.

[Chiba]

I do a hell of a lot better here with asthma than I did in Tokyo. Edmonds Baking Powder though - avoid dropping a box of the floor if you've got it. Not good. :wah

[KerryS]

Allergies as well are worse, especially since there are some plants here that you don't have anywhere else, so you won't know that you are allergic till you get here.



This is very true - I had never suffered from any serious allergies until I moved to NZ. Once here I discovered I am very allergic to pohutakawa pollen, to the extent that I have developed oral allergy syndrome which means I'm now unable to eat some foods without getting blistering, rashes or breathing difficulties.
I get very wheezy during the pollen season, so I have an inhaler for use at that time of year.

My father who has COPD found his symptoms were much improved here compared to in the UK, but he's only visited during the warmer months of summer and early autumn.

[Cardy]

Hi its been the opposite for us. 2 of our kids had to use inhalers all the time in England and TOUCH WOOD they havent needed them once since we arrived 3 years ago!!!:)

[Ally Bally Bee]

My asthma is a lot better here than when I lived in Scotland (where it was triggered - exercise induced triggered by bronchitis).
It was a lot harder to get my meds though as the doc needed to apply for a special number for me so as to prescribe my inhaler (preventive one). No worries now I've been getting it regularly (been back almost three years now).
I would say I'm less affected by my asthma than in the UK, I just have to stay warm after I've been exercising outside (I too have done Ironman NZ and this year I left my inhaler behind in the change tent before heading out for the 42.2km run. I felt a bit wheezy and got an inhaler in the med tent at the finish. Apart from a few wheezes I was fine).

[nifta]

i grew up in NZ and have asthma. it was quite severe as a kid, but mellowed out as i went through my teens (in NZ). it's been 15 years since i've lived there but on my visits home i haven't noticed it getting worse... not sure if that's significant - could be i've lucked out with the time of year etc.

[Jacqi B]

My OH has asthma (very occasional symptoms) here in UK and quite bad hayfever. Has visited NZ twice - there during November-December and March-April - and never had hayfever or trouble with asthma when there.

[dilanium]

I think I'm developing exercise induces asthma, but this is also the first time I've been seriously working out since I had pneumonia and strep at the same time so that may be why I'm having these problems rather than moving to NZ. *shrug* It took me three quarters of hard out basketball to start wheezing though, so maybe I just need to get in better shape.

[ENZ]

Countries with the highest rates of asthma:

1. Wales
2. Australia
3. Scotland
4. Republic of Ireland
5. Canada
6. Estonia
7. New Zealand
8. United States
9. England
10. Malta
11. Norway
12. Denmark
13. Spain
14. Poland
15. Sweden........



Reference: http://www.asthmamonitoring.org/asthma_aust05_html/Figures/Figure%203p3.htm

The highest risk factor seems to be "English speaking country".

[victoria24]

i dont know if theres anything in it but before we left the uk, we took dd to see an orthodontist who had a rare radical view that its not the teeth that need to be manipulated but the jaw using "functional aplliances"
The theory being that the "english" jaw shape was different to say south americans or polynesians. (Note how they seem to have good wide smiles?)
This has a bearing on the pallett, breathing etc.
Make of it what you will but I know that "English" people tend to have a high arched pallett with a retracted lower jaw. Are their any dentists on here that could comment as to whether there is a link between the two?

[Ana&Steve]

I notice an improvement in breathing/allergies when in NZ.

Been mentioned before but eating a teaspoon of local honey is reportedly a good way to acclimate your body to environmental intolerances.

[72andsunny]

The highest risk factor seems to be "English speaking country".

I read a study recently that concluded the prevalence of asthma in a country is inversely proportional to the incidence of TB and typhoid. This table did not cut and paste well, but if anyone wants to dig up the article: Medical Hypotheses (2000) 55(1), 40–42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 1 Comparing rates of death from asthma to tuberculosis in
10 countries where asthma prevalence has been documented by
ISAAC (1).

Deaths from asthma : Deaths from TB

Countries with a prevalence of asthma >20%

Australia 38:1
New Zealand 19:1
United Kingdom 17:1
United States of America 15:1
Canada 16:1

Countries with a prevalence of asthma <10%

Argentina* 1.6:1
Mexico* 1.6:1
Trinidad* 3.3:1
Russia* 3.5:1
Romania* 2.5:1

*In these countries immunization to typhoid is recommended.

[peebles16]

It must vary terribly I reckon as my experience is that my very mild hayfever has gotten considerably worse in NZ summers :( I have friends in the North Island and their kids' asthma has gotten worse on moving here not necessarily in frequency of attacks but certainly more intense with more hospital visits resulting in stronger medication. They pretty much put it down to poor heating, dampness etc and that said one of their kids has grown out of it :)

Karenx

[Sam Howes]

HI! Its good that you brought the question up as my son has Asthma too. We Aren't in NZ yet so unable to really help other than tell what others have told us. I Hadn't thought it might make it worse as friends who have recently settled in NZ have said that theres has greatly improved. They live at carterton which is inland.
Good Thread.

[enb]

Not only do people notice a difference with their asthma when they come to NZ, either for better or worse but there also appears to be a noticeable difference between cities and rural areas and within different parts of NZ.
Cold damp houses here are a big factor with the asthma rates which is why there is a big drive to get houses insulated.

[Familyofmonkeys]

On the whole, my asthma is better BUT the damp houses and lack of central heating certainly makes any flare ups worse in winter.


Same here. My asthma is noticably better due to improved air quality here, and my hayfever is significantly improved as well. When my dad came to visit earlier this year he was able to completely stop taking his inhalers with no problems...which he normally takes twice a day in UK. But the lack of central heating and damp environment in winter definitely takes it's toll on me and I take ventolin way more than I normally would even after using a preventer. It is interesting that in UK the advice is to maintain some moisture in air to prevent excessive drying of nasal passages/bronchial tubes etc to prevent night time coughing. Here we have the opposite problem of keeping the air dry enough to prevent mould spores and house dust mites multiplying and causing allergic asthma.



i dont know if theres anything in it but before we left the uk, we took dd to see an orthodontist who had a rare radical view that its not the teeth that need to be manipulated but the jaw using "functional aplliances"
The theory being that the "english" jaw shape was different to say south americans or polynesians. (Note how they seem to have good wide smiles?)
This has a bearing on the pallett, breathing etc.
Make of it what you will but I know that "English" people tend to have a high arched pallett with a retracted lower jaw. Are their any dentists on here that could comment as to whether there is a link between the two?


You might find this BBC article interesting as it explains some of the reasons why people with certain accents such as American seem to have wide smiles due to tongue position in the mouth......

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7509572.stm

[Kate D]

Both my asthma and hay fever have improved markedly since being here. But I live in a dry, heated house (with fuel bills to match!) cos I'm a wimp. Otherwise is not an option for me, alas.

Don't know if it's the clear, fresh sea air or a lack of exercise, but it works:-)

Kate

[vic11]

Two of my work colleagues kids have asthma and they are hoping "they'll just grow out of it". So I got the impression from that, it was quite common here. I would agree that the cold, damp houses must have something to do with it.

[bobo]

damp housing, wood burnners and the lack of Selenium are regularly blamed for the high asyhma rates in NZ.

This then begs the question why is Scotland etal so high on the list.

[Tia Maria]

damp housing, wood burnners and the lack of Selenium are regularly blamed for the high asyhma rates in NZ.

This then begs the question why is Scotland etal so high on the list.

Lack of Selenium?

Cheers

Tia

[ENZ]

New Zealand's soils and hence its meat and vegetable produce have low levels of the trace element selenium. This can be associated with a poorer immune system. You can boost your body's selenium to normal levels by taking vitamin supplements or, preferably, eat one brazil nut a day.

[kerrijeansmith]

My husband needs an inhaler occasionally here, and he never did in Canada.