Christmas tree syndrome: This is the season when those with allergies pay a heavy price for inviting the holiday joy inside their homes. According to John Shumway of KDKA, it’s a real phenomenon that can really ruin things.
Although there isn’t a sneezing epidemic, it can make the holidays less enjoyable.
There’s undoubtedly a reason why you find yourself reaching for a tissue rather than the wrapping paper, and it has nothing to do with pollen from pine trees.
Many people believe the tree itself is the cause of the issue, according to doctors Russell Traister of Allegheny Health Network and Devon Preston of the Cleveland Clinic.
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Christmas tree syndrome
“A lot of times when people say they’re allergic to Christmas trees, I suspect it’s due to some of the moulds on the tree,” said Dr. Traister.
Artificial trees are particularly prone to tissue-grabbing incidents because of the dust that has gathered around them during storage.
Then there are the Christmas scent-producing plants like mistletoe, holly, and poinsettias. “Strong fragrances can really be an irritant in people’s noses and caused a lot of issues,” said Dr. Traister.
According to Dr. Preston, it’s probably better to shake out your actual tree and give it a thorough rinse with a lot of water to get rid of some of the extra allergens and irritants if you haven’t put it up yet.
Dr. Traister believes that taking an antihistamine won’t harm you if your tree is up and you’re having trouble, and it might even assist with watery or itchy eyes.
If the decorations or the tree have mould, the problems won’t go away unless the spores are removed.
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