Living with asthma and allergies can be really tough, especially when kids are affected. Constantly having to worry about dust, mould, weather conditions, pollen and the range of other triggers is incredibly frustrating and tiring.
Some families start to ask the question – should we move?
Moving to another suburb, city or even country is a very big step if asthma or allergies are the only reason you are considering such a move. Unfortunately, it may not have as much impact as you hope.
Different people’s asthma is triggered by different factors, but many people with asthma and allergies have an underlying allergic sensitivity (called atopy). For example, if you are allergic to grasses and pollens, you might have fewer symptoms on first moving from an inland region to a coastal area. However, while a different climate may help in the short term, over a longer time you might develop sensitivities to triggers in your new environment such as dust mites.
It is also important to consider that these types of moves can be stressful on all members of your family, including your pets. The kids would have to start at new schools and make new friends. You would need to find new a new doctor that you feel comfortable with and then transfer all your medical history. And these are just a couple of the additional things you would need to consider.
Before making such a move, we suggest that you have a chat with your doctor about your asthma and allergy concerns. There may be some simple steps you can take in your current location, such as getting on top of your hayfever before spring kicks in or having an allergy test to discover exactly what allergens are causing problems.
You might also like to check out our Sensitive Choice website for some tips on how to create a healthy home for you and your family. Here are some links to get your started:
Leanne K
National Asthma Council Australia
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