Moving to a new country involves a multitude of adjustments. You will need to learn new geography and local lingo, understand your new culture. Even the air you breathe is new.
When Bart moved to Canada from the U.S., he was facing a host of life changes: a new job, a new city to explore, and new friends to make. He was prepared for a new adventure—what he didn’t count on was a sudden new medical issue. Shortly after his arrival, he found himself facing a confusing collection of new medical symptoms that seemed to point to a possible allergy.
Allergies – not to be sneezed at
Allergies are not uncommon: it’s estimated 1% to 2% of Canadians have serious allergies to food or other common allergens, such as medications, insects, or latex. But allergy symptoms cover a broad range—from respiratory trouble to symptoms affecting the skin, the digestive system, or other parts of the body.
Every individual experience with allergies is different, even with reactions to the same allergen. Allergens can vary from region to region, as well – from Toronto’s ragweed to Halifax’s dust mites to Vancouver’s tree pollen, a regional move may expose you to a whole new set of potential allergens.
The impact is not just physical – scientists have begun to study the increased levels of anxiety and depression linked to allergy sufferers.
The first step can be the hardest
After some research into allergies, Bart was relatively sure that he was facing some kind of an allergic reaction, but he did not know the exact cause of the allergy or whether it was due to food, animals, or some other factor in his new environment.
An allergy test can be crucial in confirming what sort of allergy you might be facing. But who can administer an allergy test for you? Once you suspect an allergy, what are the next steps?
Bart knew he wanted an allergy test. However, being new to Canada and far from his usual networks of support, he was unsure of where to begin. He felt confused, frustrated, and uncertain about how to obtain a referral or access help from an allergist in his new city.
That’s when Bart called Novus Health.
Navigating the Canadian health care system
After connecting with Novus Health and talking to one of our Health Information Specialists, Bart received a comprehensive information package on relevant public and private health services in his area. He was sent a specialized guide for his province so that he could better understand how his new health care system works, as well as information about nearby allergy testing locations and a list of allergists with different fields of expertise in this area (that is, medical doctors who use evidence-based procedures for diagnosing and treating allergies). The package also contained information about the various evidence-based procedures and treatment options that Bart had available to him.
Not only was Bart relieved to receive expert guidance through the Canadian healthcare system, but with this comprehensive overview, he was able to locate an allergist nearby and get the testing he needed. He also better understood the services available to him in his new province.
Bart tells us that his new town is starting to feel a lot more like home. “Just knowing where to turn for help has been a huge relief,” he says, then adds with a wink, “I can breathe easier, in more ways than one.”
Read more success stories.
Sources
https://bodyandhealth.canada.com/channel/allergy/understanding-allergies/
http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/allergies/the-worst-canadian-cities-for-allergies/
