Holiday Asthma Triggers: Christmas trees

 

Thanksgiving is over, and it's time for the holidays. 

 

My friends are posting picture perfect Instagram pics of their family at the Christmas tree lots. 

And we are pulling out our carefully packaged Christmas tree from the storeroom. Sigh.

No pesky needles to sweep up and no fresh pine trees to cause allergies and an asthma attack.  

We are a family of 5, and all 5 of us have allergies – to everything. Trees, grass, flowers, bushes, cats, dogs, horses – basically anything that is alive. And that includes Christmas trees.

It’s not that we haven’t tried to treat our allergies. Not only do I buy allergy medicine and allergy nose spray in bulk at the warehouse store, but we have all completed allergy shots.  

 

My youngest is in college and is actually repeated her allergy shots now. 

In fact, she set the record for the allergy clinic for the most vials of serum needed for one patient! She gets 6 shots each time (3 in each arm.) 

 

Our allergies aren’t as bad as they used to be, but we still all suffer from sneezing, runny noses, and itchy eyes and throats. It's like a cold that never goes away..... 

We use an allergy safe artificial Christmas tree. Once I have all of my decorations on, you can't even tell if it's real or fake. 

And bonus: it's a money saver because we don't have to spend money on a new tree every year that will just end up in the landfill. 

I do miss the smell of a fresh Christmas tree, but it’s not worth the miserable month we would spend with allergy medicine and a box of tissues.

After Christmas we remove all the decorations and carefully fold in the branches of the tree. Then we wrap it tightly in plastic and place it in a sturdy box for next year. That protects it from building up dust for next year. 

What does your family use? A real tree or artificial Christmas tree? 

There is no right or wrong, do what is best for you and your family! 

Hugs, 

Andrea