The Worst Places to Live with Allergies

Australia and New Zealand have some of the highest hay fever rates in the world, making them two of the worst places to live with allergies.

Location plays a significant role in hay fever, which is why some people can be unaffected their whole life until they move. This is because trees and grasses grow in different areas, and pollinate at different times of the year and in different volumes, depending on the area.

Australia is very large, with each state having a different climate, and New Zealand’s climate varies too. This can contribute to varying hay fever rates between the states and countries.

We have clinic locations all over Australia and New Zealand, where our qualified Naturopaths use a natural allergy treatment called Positive Association Technique (PAT) to help thousands of clients get relief from their hay fever symptoms.

Find out the worst places to live with allergies in Australia and New Zealand and the best places to live for allergy sufferers…

1. Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Australia’s capital comes in at first place, where approximately 26% of people report hay fever symptoms. This makes it one of the worst places to live with allergies in Australia.

This is due to a large number of exotic plant and tree species that have been introduced to the area, which release more pollen than native species and for an extended season.

2. Tasmania

Just missing out on the top spot, Tasmania still reports relatively high rates of hay fever at 23%. This is though to be due to northern winds which carry pollen to southern regions.

3. Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia

Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia have a similar incidence of hay fever in Australia at about 21%.

This is due in large part to the White Cypress flower in Western Australia, which blooms between July and August and airborne grasses which get picked up by dry and coastal winds.

The pollen carried by the wind from the northern grasslands contributes to high rates in Victoria.

In South Australia, the concentration of pollen is said to vary according to prevailing winds.

4. New Zealand

New Zealand sits around middle with around 20% of the population reporting symptoms. This is mainly due to a number of plants that have been introduced to the region including:

Perennial ryegrass – a wind-borne pollen that commonly sparks hay fever symptoms, especially during spring time
English plantain – a ubiquitous weed often found in lawns, parks and along the roadside
Birch, cedar and pine trees – some of the worst offenders, which release troublesome pollen between June and August

5. New South Wales and Queensland

New South Wales reports a lower incidence of hay fever in Australia at 18.6%. In NSW, pollen counts usually peak in October and November. However, sufferers can also be affected during other times of the year depending on when various grasses and weeds release their pollen.

The sunny state comes in at almost last on the list at 16.8%, despite the fact that QLD reports some of the longest pollination seasons across the nation.

The Great Dividing Range is also though to protect the east coast from the westerly winds which bring in pollen.

6. Northern Territory

Coming in at last place, making it one of the the best places to live for allergy sufferers in Australia is the Northern Territory! With rates of almost half of the other states, at 11.8%, the Northern Territory is a haven for hay fever sufferers.

Are hay fever rates increasing?

Climate change is happening everywhere and will affect us in many different ways. Changes in temperature, the weather and Co2 rates have increased the severity and the amount of people who have seasonal allergies world wide.

Pollen counts have risen world wide, the most measurable study is from Europe over a 30 year period which analyzed the length of a pollen season, different types of pollen and the amount atmospherically in 13 different countries. It showed an increasing trend in the yearly amount of airborne pollen and the length of time a pollen season lasts.

Interestingly, it wasn’t the rising temperature to be the biggest factor but the increase of atmospheric CO2 levels that caused the escalation of pollen produced.

Check out our full blog post “The Effects of Climate Change on Seasonal Allergies” to learn more.

There’s more to hay fever than just pollen.

While pollen may be the most prevalent seasonal hay fever trigger, there are a couple of other plant metabolites that can also contribute to seasonal hay fever symptoms, that are not so well known; plant phenolics and terpenes.

Plant phenolics are naturally occurring chemicals in all plants that are responsible for taste, color and smell. They also play a major role in defending the plant against pests and pathogens.

Terpenes are aromatic compounds that determine the smell of many plants and herbs like rosemary, lavender and pine. They play a vital role in plants attracting pollinators or repelling insects and animals.

Check out our full blog post “There’s more to Hay Fever than just pollen!” to learn more.

Natural Allergy Treatment for Hay Fever

If you’re living in one of the worst places to live with allergies and are struggling with seasonal hay fever symptoms, we have good news for you!

At Health & Wellness Australia & Auckland, our qualified Naturopaths perform a natural allergy treatment to help relieve the symptoms of hay fever called Positive Association Technique (PAT). We have clinics located in most major cities of Australia and in Auckland, New Zealand.

PAT is a non-invasive, natural allergy treatment which:

performed by qualified Naturopaths
draws on kinesiology and acupressure techniques
aims to re-train your body to minimise your reactions to substances like pollen, phenolics and terpenes.

To find out if Positive Association Technique (PAT) is right for you, get a copy of our Free PAT Information E-Pack straight to your inbox!