Be mindful of yuletide allergic reactions

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Dec, 2007

As you begin pulling down the holiday decorations from the attic this season, doctors at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, have some tips for cutting down allergy risks. "Carrying items down from dusty attics or pulling them from garages and other storage areas can stir up dust and mold," cautions Rebecca Gruchalla, chief of allergy and immunology.

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If you have fabric decorations, wash the items before they are displayed. When selecting decorations, try to avoid fabric, which traps more dust than plastic, metal, or glass. If the decorations appear dusty, take them outside and wipe them down before putting them up in your home. That can be particularly helpful with artificial trees, which can accumulate dust and mold in the branches.

People suffering from mountain cedar allergy should not use freshly cut juniper trees since they pollinate during the winter. If you are selecting a freshly cut or live tree, look for Scotch pines and Douglas firs--the mainstays of most Christmas tree lots.

Other things that may exacerbate symptoms in persons with asthma and allergies are scented candles and wood stored for fireplaces--even the smoke from fires can be a trigger of asthma attacks. If traveling, consider taking your own pillow containing a dust mite-proof encasement.