Asthma and Canada
 

My son is asthmatic. It isn't the usual asthma that takes the form of asthma attacks, he has a tendency to catch colds in damp weather, which are always followed by chest infections. For example, May was the wettest month in a long time in England, and for the last three weeks he has been battling a chest infection as a result of the weather.

How damp is a Canadian winter? I've never been in winter, and although I know all about the temperature, I don't know how damp or dry it is?

Is it a dry cold rather than a damp cold?

We haven't decided where we want to emigrate to yet. Is there anywhere that is particularly damp, or humid in summer that may cause problems for my son?

Are there other asthmatics who find their health has improved since moving to Canada?

Re: Asthma and Canada
 

hi there i have asthma which is triggered by damp, i have been to canada for long periods and always find my breathing great, infact after about 2weeks i do not need to use my sprays etc. the winter is not damp but the summer can be harsh with the heat but that did not really effect me.

hope this helps

Re: Asthma and Canada
 

It all depends on where you go. (Forgive the obvious statement but its a big country and weather conditions vary tremendously). The prairies I imagine are a dry cold. The Maritimes and NL are definately a damp cold. Although my wife used to complain about the cold and damp far more in UK than here. BC is just rain, rain, rain but warm! ;)

Re: Asthma and Canada
 

Alberta is dry as a chip!

Hubby's nose problem dried up tremendously when we got here last September. However he's been sniffy again these last couple of weeks, so I wonder if it's the pollen atm.

Re: Asthma and Canada
 

Northern Ontario is DRY in the winter!

Re: Asthma and Canada
 

I had bad asthma as a child in UK, when we moved to Alberta in 1978 it was like someone flicked a switch. Apart from the occassional trigger ie. animals/dust I only needed my blue inhaler a few times. Watch out for the cold as well as this seemed to trigger an attack as well. I have been back in UK now for 9 years and back to my 2 inhalers each day, I am hoping that the same will happen again when we move back to Canada and I can throw the inhalers in the bin!! We also lived on Vancouver Island for a few years and althought it was a little more humid than Alberta I still had no problems.

Re: Asthma and Canada
 

Thanks folks, this has been really reassuring. :)

Re: Asthma and Canada
 

I have been here almost two years now and am a long term sufferer of Asthma. Got to say have never been better here in Canada - all seasons! With one exception! Toronto!!! Was quite bad while I lived there, fortunately only a few months...but air pollution is bad there inthe warmer weather...just see the yellow haze hanging over the GTA as you approachon on the 401 from the east or West. Ugh!! Took me a while to twigg as to why my condition was deteriorating.

Since moving out of the city (hated the place anyway) , have never been better. Best of luck

Re: Asthma and Canada
 

I never in my life suffered from asthma (or any other chest related problems) until we moved to SW Ontario. Started to get a tight chest and persistent cough around Sept 04 - Asthma! The air quality in the whole of SW Ontario suffers poorly - that's what I was told by my Dr there. However, even though I'm back in dry Alberta, I still need my occasional "puffs" on the blue inhaler but, like it's been said already, that could now be pollen related. :(

Re: Asthma and Canada
 

If you do a search of the canada forum Im sure that there are threads covering this. One of our former members Glaswegian who live in Alberta had sons who suffered from asthma, actually I believe the wife did as well, and I can remember them talking very openly about it and what they did.

Re: Asthma and Canada
 

Thanks Willmore, I'll do that now.

Re: Asthma and Canada
 

I suffered a lot from asthma as a kid in southern Ontario. During the summer, that part of Canada has one of highest pollen counts in North America and air quality isn't very good. In Alberta, "snow mold" would also trigger my asthma. At least for me, the BC interior is best. The southern Okanagan valley of BC (Penticton to Osoyoos) and Kamloops, BC are among the driest parts of Canada. Much fruit is grown in the Okanagan so I would think that Kamloops would generally have the lower pollen count. Coastal BC is particularly damp during the winter months.

Re: Asthma and Canada
 

Nova Scotia is reported as having high incidence of asthma. My daughter suffered asthma in UK related to winter chest infections and certain tree pollens in the spring, but so far her asthma has not been a problem here.

Deborah

Re: Asthma and Canada
 

Daughter hasn't used a puffer in 7 years used the portable nebulizer in the UK.

I have the same dust damp triggers and also haven't. But the last year in the UK was also a good year as we learn to shut our mouths.

Over 80% of Asthma diagnoses is over breathing related.

Have a read of Buteyko Method For Children what have you to lose except drug charges.

Re: Asthma and Canada
 

That's interesting because by some measures the air quality around Belleville / Bay of Quinte is actually worse than in the GTA itself. I can explain that in more detail if you want, but obviously I don't doubt your own knowledge of your own symptoms :)