• Though many people suffer from allergies year-round, the holiday season can be especially triggering.
• Christmas trees, wreaths and other decorations can collect mold and dust.
• The scent of pine from a fresh tree can worsen allergy and asthma symptoms.
Dr. Manish Khanna of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers says newer treatments for allergy sufferers are often simple and painless, and many can be done from home.
"Now the alternative option is what's called SLIT (sublingual immunotherapy), where patients actually put drops under the tongue. The positive side of this technique is that it’s much easier; patients are doing this at home," Khanna told Maryland Business Daily. "As far as we know, there have been no documented cases of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction that's rare, even in the shot setting, but it can happen. No documented cases of that with sublingual immunotherapy."
More than 40 million Americans suffer from allergies, and the holiday season can be an especially difficult time for allergy sufferers, according to WebMD. Evergreen trees, wreaths and other holiday trimmings can attract mold, a common allergy trigger. Artificial decorations can help, but your decorations should be stored in dry containers to prevent mold that can form if they're stored somewhere damp, such as a basement. Decorations can also collect dust, which could set off allergy symptoms.
The pine scent of Christmas trees and other decorations can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms, according to GoodRx. Natural compounds called terpene, some of which can be found in the sap of pine trees, can irritate the eyes, nose and skin. Trees that are decorated with "flocking," or fake snow, can also set off allergy or asthma symptoms, as the flocking releases small particles into the air.
Another reason to beware of your holiday decorations is the possibility that there are droppings from pests such as mice, cockroaches and spiders, which like to nest in dark, damp locations such as basements and garages. Bins like the ones in which you keep your holiday decorations can make good hiding places because they aren't moved often.
If you'd like more information about diagnosing and treating allergies, please take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.