Guest Author - Cheryl Tidball, DO

It’s that time of year—when our hearts are filled with the hope and love of the holiday season. Unfortunately for those with asthma and allergies, it’s also a time of increased congestion and wheezing. However, there are several precautions that can be taken to alleviate potential triggers.

1) Don’t get a live Christmas tree—Many people assume they are allergic to Christmas trees because their symptoms worsen when the trees are brought indoors. This is not necessarily the case. Trees are generally not pollinating in December. Most likely what is causing problems is the mold. Studies have shown that mold spore levels in a home rapidly rise after a tree is brought into the house, peaking at about the two week mark. Pesticides that the trees have been sprayed with may also trigger symptoms. Artificial trees may alleviate the problem, especially when new. However, artificial trees may also accumulate dust and mold, particularly when stored in dusty and damp attics and basements. Make sure to have a non-asthmatic in the household vacuum and wipe down the artificial tree and all decorations when they are brought out of storage. Or, you could get creative! Make your own wooden tree, have your children paint a tree on the living room wall, or put lights on a houseplant!

2) Get a live Christmas tree—If you do decide to get a live Christmas tree for your home, make sure to rinse it off thoroughly and dry outside for several days before bringing it inside the home. You may also wish to limit exposure to the tree as much as possible without totally sacrificing tradition. Put the tree up on Christmas Eve and take it down a day or two after Christmas. Another possible solution is to get a hybrid tree such as the Leland cypress (a combination of the Alaskan cedar and Monterey cypress) that cannot produce pollen and very little odor.

3) Avoid scented candles—The beautiful scented candles that are often a part of our holiday decorations may also be a trigger for many individuals. Choose scent-free candles or use other types of lighting instead.

4) Make sure to have your asthma and allergy meds filled ahead of time—Although you can minimize exposure to many holiday asthma triggers in your own home, it’s a lot harder to stay away from them in the homes of others and in other buildings such as stores, churches, and schools. Keep your inhaler with you at all times and take allergy meds ahead of time if you know there will be unavoidable exposure.

Happy holidays!