Many families enthusiastically decorate their homes for the holidays as they approach, infusing their living areas with the comfort and joy of the occasion.
But for a few, the habit of decorating a Christmas tree can have an unexpected side effect called “Christmas Tree Syndrome.”
This disease is related to allergic responses caused by the decorations themselves.
It affects people who may not know that they are sensitive to certain materials or substances frequently used in Christmas decorations.
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- What is ‘Christmas tree syndrome’?
- What are the allergies caused by ‘Christmas tree syndrome’?
- How do you think you could take precautions?
What is ‘Christmas tree syndrome’?
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One of the most fun aspects of Christmas is putting up the decorations, but several symptoms can indicate an allergy to decorations. Be on the lookout for people with “Christmas tree syndrome”; You can be allergic to the festive fir tree, despite how beautiful a Christmas tree may look.
What are the allergies caused by ‘Christmas tree syndrome’?
According to Kiki Soteri, Christmas tree syndrome can be present in people who suddenly experience symptoms, such as pain, itchy eyes, coughing, sneezing, or even asthma episodes. Head of Clinical Services at Leightons Opticians. Kiki said in an interview with The Express that itchy eyes could be among the first signs patients notice.
She said: “The symptoms, which include sneezing, coughing, runny nose, watery eyes and eye pain, are comparable to seasonal allergens such as hay fever.
“The development of mold and pollen on real Christmas trees can cause these allergies.”
Credit: Canva
Kiki suggested minimizing the time the tree is indoors to prevent mold spores from forming on it. She stated, “Minimize the time the tree is indoors to reduce mold spores.”
Consider decorating the tree later or early in December.” Bringing a live tree into your home can also introduce dust mites, which can aggravate respiratory allergies.
However, in addition to lights and decorations, mites can also “accumulate on artificial trees.” Kiki has provided excellent advice to help avoid unwanted symptoms.
How do you think you could take precautions?
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To start, Kiki advised cleaning the artificial trees; you may need to “remove dust or allergies” on them. He advised “drying thoroughly before bringing it indoors” and “hosing down the tree before bringing it indoors” for people who owned real trees.
She also suggested washing your hands after decorating and “wearing gloves” when handling the tree to be safe. Additional advice included placing the tree in a “temperature regulated” room so that it “isn’t too hot or too cold” and staying away from the tree closely in case of any allergic response.
It is best to speak to your general practitioner (GP) if your symptoms persist or you have any health problems.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn