Bringing a Christmas Tree into your home, whether it’s a real tree or an artificial one, can have unexpected effects on your health, causing sneezing, watery eyes and other hay fever like symptoms.
Airborne allergens expert Max Wiseberg explains and offers his advice so you can still enjoy your festive decorations without the discomfort and pain.
“It may be surprising, but many people start to experience hay fever symptoms around Christmas time,” says Max. “So what’s going on? Well those symptoms of a runny nose, sneezing, a stuffed up nose, itchy and watery or streaming eyes, nasal congestion and a general stuffed up feeling in the nose and throat could be caused by your Christmas tree and decorations. It’s not that uncommon; in fact it even has its own name – Christmas Tree Syndrome.”
“And there have even been university studies to look at the causes. For instance, scientists from Upstate Medical University analysed clippings from 28 Christmas trees including needles and bark, from a range of species, and found that they housed an unbelievable 53 different types of mould! [1]”
“In addition, pollen from other trees also gets lodged in the bark of ‘real’ trees. And you’re not ‘out of the woods’ if you opt for an artificial tree instead. There can be allergens such as dust and mould present on synthetic trees too, which have built up when stored. And this applies to tree and other decorations too which have been stored since last year.”
“This combination of allergens can take all the joy out of Christmas tree decorating. But there are things you can do to help lessen your allergic reaction. Here are my tops tips to help…
“Put your tree up as late as possible to help minimise the risk of exposure to mould.”
“Hose down your tree before taking it into the house, or after getting it out of storage, as this can help remove some of the mould and spores – though it’s probably best to get someone who isn’t allergic to do this!”
“Take care when you’re decorating your tree, or get someone else to do it, as allergens will be disturbed as you move the tree into position and move the branches to hang the decorations and position the lights.”
“Regularly apply an allergen barrier balm such as HayMax (www.haymax.biz) around your nostrils to help stop the allergens getting up your nose and around the bones of your eyes. HayMax organic, drug-free allergen barrier balm has been proven in independent studies to trap both indoor and outdoor airborne allergens from entering the body [2]. If this keeps you below your trigger level – the amount of allergen you can tolerate before your body reacts – you will have no allergic reaction.”
“Use an air purifier to help clear the air of mould particles.”
“Damp dust and vacuum regularly. Damp dusting will prevent allergen particles being redistributed into the air.”
“Keep cuddly toys and blankets in a cupboard to prevent the build-up of allergens on them.”
“Keep animals clean and well groomed, to reduce allergens collecting in their fur.”
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