Christmas is near and allergies are here! Pass the holiday spirit and the box of tissues, because seasonal allergens are joining the celebration.
Christmas is near and allergies are here! Pass the holiday spirit and the box of tissues, because seasonal allergens are joining the celebration.
Sneezing under the mistletoe? It could be your Christmas tree sabotaging your immune system. When the artificial tree and boxes of ornaments return to their corner in the garage for the majority of the year, they collect a considerable amount of dust. Reviving the decorations means resurrecting the dust that has settled and wedged its way into each corner for the past eleven months. Swirling dust travels to the nose, resulting in bouts of sneezing and distressed breathing.
If you think using a real Christmas tree during the holidays saves you from allergens, think again! Live Christmas trees are cut in advance and stored in moist environments before they are displayed for purchase. Mold loves moisture, and these trees have a naturally high moisture content.You may not buy this decaying tree for weeks, making Christmas trees the perfect breeding ground for mold growth. Asthma can be triggered by exposure to mold spores as well as sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy eyes or watery eyes, dry or scaly skin and shortness of breath.
The holidays are not only an excuse to celebrate but also an excuse to eat. Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Christmas are often celebrated away from home, which makes dealing with a food allergy quite challenging.
Common food allergies are triggered by eggs, nuts, milk and shellfish, which can be found in traditional holiday foods such as cookies, drinks, sauces, dressings, pies and casseroles. If you experience a tingling or itching mouth, hives, trouble breathing, diarrhea, or swelling of the lips, tongue, throat or face after eating, you may have a food allergy that should be brought to a doctor’s attention.
To avoid a holiday season full of sneezing and wheezing, move spring cleaning up a few months on your to-do list. Spray down your Christmas tree, artificial or real, with pressurized water to eradicate mold spores and residual dust. Let the tree dry naturally and thoroughly to avoid further mold growth. Keep real trees in the home for a maximum of four to seven days and consider running an air purifier.
