Allergic to that Christmas tree? Maybe not, but these tips could ease the sneeze and wheeze

Oh, Christmas tree — achoo — oh, Christmas tree.

‘Tis the season for choosing and decorating a tree, hanging a wreath, lighting candles, and cozying up indoors.

Dr. Robert Gorby, an allergy and immunology specialist with Westmoreland Allergy and Asthma Associates, said spending so much time indoors can cause flare-ups.

According to webmd.com, more than 40 million Americans cope with year-round allergies, with some common holiday triggers including food, mold, pets and dust mites.

“With regard to Christmas trees, people think they are allergic to trees,” Gorby said.

But it’s what is on the trees, which do not pollinate during winter, that can cause a problem.

Mold can grow on trees when they are being packed or shipped, Gorby said, especially if they are moist from having been sprayed.

“What we recommend, and it sounds counter-intuitive, is to spray trees with water. But they need to dry, probably in a garage, overnight,” he said.

Christmas trees also can be shaken, Gorby said, to get rid of some of the mold, which can otherwise proliferate within a home.

He suggested the same treatment for fresh wreaths and pine boughs.

AdvantaClean, a national franchise of indoor air quality with several locations in Western Pennsylvania, also suggests wearing gloves and long sleeves when carrying the tree to avoid sap touching one’s skin, and wiping down the trunk of the tree with a solution of 1-part bleach to 20 parts lukewarm water.

Artificial trees are probably better for those with mold or weed pollen allergies, Gorby said.

The Christmas Tree Association also weighs in, noting improper storage of artificial trees can accumulate significant dust and spores.

While convenience or tradition may dictate the type of tree one purchases, the association covers both bases, suggesting hosing down or shaking off both real and fake trees before setting up and decorating.

Keep it clean

Ornaments,kept boxed up during the rest of the year, can cause problems.

“Stuffed animals can accumulate dust mites,” Gorby said. If feasible, he recommends stuffed animals be placed in a garment bag and run through the dryer.

AdvantaClean suggests wiping down decorations with a damp cloth when taking them out of storage, and packing them in plastic bags or bins after the holidays. Cardboard can collect dust and promote mold growth, the service states.

Those darned cats

Allergic to them or not, felines are members of many people’s households.

Gorby suggested those with allergies consider starting over-the-counter medications, such as Allegra or Zyrtec, a few days before being around the animals.

Antihistamines, Gorby said, can help with symptoms like itchy, watery eyes.

There is not a lot a host can do to make their home more comfortable for those allergic to cats. “Cat dander is sticky. It flies all through the house,” Gorby said.

Dust mites, he said, live in box springs, mattresses, stuffed animals and pillows, and have nothing to do with cleanliness.

Laundering sheets and blankets in hot water can rid bedding of mites, Gorby said.

Candles can be another holiday no-no for some.

“Depending on the scent, for people with asthma they can be a pretty potent trigger,” Gorby said.

AdvantaClean suggests candles made from soy, hemp or beeswax, or even ones using LED “flickering light” effects may be a better option.