Santa Claus May Have an Asthma Attack this Christmas-
Santa may have allergies problems when he comes to bring you presents this year! A recent study reported this week at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology annual meeting, in Dallas showed that Christmas trees have large amounts of mold on the leaves. The mold count spikes about 2 weeks after the tree is brought into the home. This can be especially problematic for those with allergies and asthma.
The report found that the mold spore count was 800 spores per square meter (m3) during the first three days. Normal spore counts are less than 1,000 spores/m3, said Hemmers. However, the spore count rose after day four, reaching a maximum of 5,000 spores/m3 by day 14.
“This mold spore count is five times above normal. These high levels have been correlated with allergic rhinitis and an increased rate of asthma symptoms and asthma-related hospitalization in other studies,” said Hemmers. “So if you don’t feel well during the holidays, consider the Christmas tree as a possible source of allergies.”
“If one is mold-allergic, running an air cleaner in the same room as the tree could theoretically reduce the mold exposure, but this has not been studied,” he said. “For some people who are sensitive to odors, the aroma from the tree, which most people like, could irritate their nose and cause symptoms. For these people, avoiding live trees may be best.”
Also, don’t forget that when you bring your holiday decorations out of the garage, the dust can also put one at risk for allergy or asthma symptoms, consider using our N99 FaceSeal ViraMask for extra protection.
We at eHealthSupplies.com usually recommend using a synthetic Christmas tree as this is more environmentally friendly. However, if you do use a real Christmas tree and have allergy symptoms, beware of the mold. Happy Holidays!
Posted in Allergies, Diseases, Home Health | Tags: Allergies, Asthma, christmas tree, santa
