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(Ivanhoe Newswire) — The holidays are almost here, but along with the good food and decorations come some hidden dangers for people with allergies and asthma.

Asthma and allergy triggers can lurk in everything from those yummy homemade dishes to Christmas trees, and understanding the risks ahead of time is the best way to avoid a flare up during the festivities.

If you suffer from allergies and asthma, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) says you should:

• Be aware that evergreen trees can harbor microscopic mold spores, and artificial trees can be home to mold and dust that accumulated during storage.
• Wash decorations before use to rid them from dust that’s bound to have built up since they were last displayed.
• Be careful when spraying artificial snow on windows or other surfaces. It can damage the lungs if inhaled.
• Manage stress. Holidays are fun, but can raise anxiety levels too, and stress makes allergies worse.

You also need to take special precautions during your holiday travels. The AAAAI says to:

• Tell your host about food allergies and ask about ingredients used to prepare holiday meals.
• Keep an auto-injectable dose of epinephrine handy to avert a potentially deadly attack.
• Take allergy medicines ahead of time if you know you will be visiting a home with pets.
• Bring your own hypoallergenic pillow with you when making overnight visits.
• Ask friends and relatives to forego the blazing fire in the fireplace. Smoke can trigger an attack.

“Whether it’s feasting on holiday meals, setting up your Christmas tree, or visiting your pet-owning relatives, allergy triggers may be lurking inside of our warm, cozy homes this time of year,” Alisa M. Smith, Ph.D., from the AAAAI, was quoted as saying. “Avoiding potential triggers and taking the proper precautions is necessary to keep symptoms under control.”

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

This entry was posted on Friday, November 9th, 2007 at 12:11 pm and is filed under Allergy, Anxiety / Stress, Medical News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.