00:00Is your Christmas tree making you cough and sneeze? Since both real and fake trees can carry
00:04common allergies, you could be experiencing what some people call Christmas tree syndrome.
00:09Christmas tree syndrome to us is, you know, when people bring in either an artificial or real tree
00:16and then they notice some worsening of their allergy symptoms, asthma symptoms, and just,
00:22you know, general irritation of the skin, eyes, nose. While being allergic to pine trees is
00:27relatively uncommon, there could be other allergens lurking. Cleveland Clinic allergist Dr. Devin
00:32Preston says real trees can have weed pollen, mold, and dust. Even the pine smells can irritate your
00:39sinuses and lungs because of the chemical compounds. If you go the route of an artificial tree, dust and
00:44mold can build up on the tree while it's being stored. And if the tree is already up and you're
00:48noticing your allergens worsen, an air purifier or traditional allergy meds can help. For symptom
00:54management, things like over-the-counter nasal steroids, nasal antihistamines, or oral antihistamines
01:02can help with some of those symptoms. And sometimes it's not just the allergens lurking in the tree.
01:07Yes, critters from possums to owls can also leave their mark in the tree, if not still in the tree.
01:13For AccuWeather, I'm meteorologist Tony Laubach.
Comments