Do You Suffer from Christmas Tree Syndrome?
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iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Christmas apparently isn’t the most wonderful time of the year for people who have allergic reactions to not only live Christmas trees, but also fake ones.
AFC Doctors Express, an urgent care medical provider, reports it treats a lot of patients this time of year for “Christmas tree syndrome.” The symptoms include runny noses, sneezing and itchy eyes, which are often mistaken for signs of the common cold.
The company says research conducted by the State University of New York found that 70 percent of the molds found in live Christmas trees can cause fatigue and sinus congestion and even trigger severe asthma attacks.
The sap of Christmas trees contains terpene and other substances that can irritate skin and mucous membranes.
ConsumerAffairs.com says some of the materials used to make artificial trees can cause sinus irritation. It also notes that artificial trees can collect dust and dirt if they are not wrapped securely and kept in a cool, dry place.
ConsumerAffairs.com advises live Christmas tree traditionalists to wear gloves and long sleeves when bringing the tree indoors to avoid sap touching their skin. It also suggests spraying the tree with water to remove some of the mold and pollen before bringing it into the house. And put the tree in a bucket of water and let it dry outside for a few days. That will prevent mold from growing.
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