It has been long-suspected that those beautiful, live Christmas trees are the cause of many a yuletide sneeze. But is an artificial tree just as maddening to allergy and asthma sufferers as a fresh one? The answer may surprise you!
Allergists often see an increase in patients with reoccurring sinus infections during the end of December through January. In the winter months, when allergens should be at an annual low, it is unusual for so many people to be experiencing symptoms—unless a new allergen has been introduced. One common denominator for most of the holiday allergy outbreaks is the presence of the festive, live evergreen tree, wreath or garland.
Many have theorized that the cause of the Christmas tree allergy is from pollen that was carried in on the tree and disturbed during decorating. In order to avoid the pollens, people invest in artificial trees that can be reused year after year. The only problem with the pollen theory and it’s solution—artificial trees—is that the same irritants hitching a ride on live trees may also be hiding in an artificial one. The artificial tree that is banished to the attic or closet from January to December will inevitably be inundated by allergens. Stray pollen grains, dust and dust mite residue all settle on an artificial tree in the same way that they would on any item in storage. Plastic bags and boxes sometimes are not enough to avoid build-up, especially if the tree wasn’t thoroughly cleaned before packing.
So is there an advantage to putting up an artificial tree as opposed to a live one?
If you are allergic to mold, the answer is a definite “yes”. When a tree is cut, it immediately begins to decompose—and mold growth is one of the first elements of natural composition. When a tree is initially placed indoors, the spore count will hover around 800, as opposed to the usual 500-700 per cubic meter. After the first three days, the spore count will begin to rise so that by day 14, the spore count is up to 5,000 per cubic meter. It most likely is the mold associated with the tree decomposition that affects allergic symptoms, rather than the pollen brought in on the tree.
Tips for live trees:
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If possible, you may want to go to a tree farm where you can cut your tree yourself. This guarantees that the tree is fresh and has not had the opportunity begin experiencing mold growth.
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After bringing the tree home, have a non-allergic family member or friend hose the it down outside. Allow the tree to completely dry before bringing it indoors. If the temperatures are below freezing, you may want to bring the tree into the garage to ensure that it dries.
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If you find that you typically have a lot of allergy or asthma problems during the holidays, you may want to abbreviate the amount of time that you have your tree up. If you put it up on Christmas Eve and take it down 3 to 4 days later, you will probably notice that your symptoms are not going to be as severe in the long term.
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If only having your Christmas tree for a days makes you feel a little bit like the Grinch, consider putting your tree up on the front porch and then bring it inside on Christmas eve. You can decorate it with lights and some sturdier ornaments, then finish the festivities when you bring it indoors, adding the delicate and most treasured ornaments last.
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Turn on your HEPA filter to full power and place it in the room with the tree. An Air purifier like the IQAir HealthPro Plus is able to remove the excessive amount of spores (or even invasive pollens) that are associated with Christmas trees and other live evergreen decorations.
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Take oral antihistamines before bringing the tree into the house—talk to your doctor about starting a prescription allergy medicine regime for over the holidays. If you are visiting the home of friends or relations who have a live tree, make sure that you keep your medicines handy.
Tips for Artificial Trees:
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If you suffer from severe allergies, allergies to mold or asthma, your most healthy choice would be using fake evergreen trees and garlands for the holidays.
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Just like with a live tree, there are many benefits to washing off an artificial tree that has been in storage in order to remove all the dust and allergen particles that have collected over the past year. When the holiday season is over, hose the artificial tree down again. Allow the tree to dry thoroughly before putting it back into storage. Note: Make sure that you read all directions before getting the hose—some trees (like those with built in lights or fiber optic elements) may not be washable. It this case, have a non-allergic family member vacuum each limb and then wipe them with a moist cloth.
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