Is Your Christmas Tree Making You Sick? How It Triggers Sneezes, Sniffles, and Allergies

While it is the time for a generous helping of plum cakes, a cup of eggnog, and decorating your house for the holidays – the stuff Christmas memories are made of – it can lead to a string of allergies,

too. According to doctors, your tree may make you feel awful, with the Christmas Tree Syndrome. The green tree, along with the attractive decorations, may cause you to sneeze, wheeze, and sniffle.

What is the Christmas Tree Syndrome?

Christmas tree syndrome is an allergy exacerbation that happens due to a real or artificial tree kicking your allergies into high gear. If after putting up your Christmas tree, you find yourself sniffling, sneezing, or struggling with other common allergy symptoms, your holiday décor’s probably bombarding you with irritants. According to doctors, it is caused by mold spores, dust, or plant resins which are released from live trees, or dust and mold accumulation on stored artificial trees. In previously conducted studies, researchers closely measured mold counts in a room that contained a live Christmas tree. During the first three days that the tree was indoors, the count of mold spores in the air remained at about 800 spores per cubic meter of air. Starting on the fourth day, however, the spore counts began rising and eventually reached 5,000 mold spores in the air per cubic meter within two weeks. Counts higher than 700 spores per cubic meter are an indication that mold growth is occurring in an environment.

Signs and symptoms of Christmas Tree Syndrome

A few common signs and symptoms of the condition include:

• Severe coughing
• Recurrent sneezing
• Nasal congestion
• Red, itchy, and watery eyes
• Rashes, hives, and itchy skin
• Sore throat
• Sinus pressure

Doctors say severe allergic reactions to the tree can lead to medical emergencies. If you are experiencing extreme allergy symptoms like breathlessness, swelling in your tongue, or a rapid heart rate, call the emergency services right away.

Why does the Christmas Tree Syndrome happen?

According to experts, pine trees have a chemical compound known as terpene, which is also found in many other strong-smelling plants like lavender, rosemary, thyme, basil, and ginger. The three also bring outdoor allergens into your home, which include weed pollen, rosin, dust mites, insect droppings, pesticides, and mold, which are common triggers of asthma – a life-threatening condition. Along with all this, flocking or aerosolized artificial snow can also wreak havoc on your airway and trigger allergies.

How can you prevent allergies?

According to doctors, there are many ways to prevent or treat Christmas tree syndrome, a few of which include:

Select the right tree

If you have a pine tree allergy, make sure to opt for an artificial tree.

Prep your tree

Whether you are working with an artificial evergreen or the real deal, shaking out and hosing down the tree goes a long way toward reducing allergens.

Decorate mindfully

If you have a bunch of allergies, it is best to skip the boughs of holly, cinnamon brooms, and poinsettias.

Cover up when you deck the halls

Whether it is real or fake, decoration for a Christmas tree can really scratch you up. Irritants can lead to rashes, hives, and other unpleasant skin symptoms, and so, when it is time to decorate, make sure to wear old clothes and cover your arms properly.

Clean the ornaments

The beautiful ornaments you use to decorate your tree spend most of the year gathering dust. So, remove any crud they have accumulated and wear a mask while doing so.

Use over-the-counter allergy medications

Make sure to keep nasal steroids, antihistamines, or oral antihistamines handy in case of any kind of allergies.

Use air purifiers

Running an air purifier is the best way to filter mold spores, dust, pollen, and other irritants from the air.