Merry Christmas and please pass the antihistamine or inhaler---‘tis the season for asthma and allergies. Like Aunt Helen’s twice re-gifted fruit cake, sneezing and congestion are simply not welcome guests at the family holiday celebration.
Smack in the middle of Christmas debate is often the choice of a real or artificial Christmas trees, wreaths and other decorations. Which is better “real” or “artificial” is one of those questions that the answer is a resounding: “that depends, but let me explain.” The bottom line is that you want the “beauty of Christmas” and not the allergens to take your breath away.
If you want a quick clue as to how complicated the issue is, you need to know more about the first artificial tree. In the 1930’s, the Addis Brush Company created the first artificial-brush trees using the same machinery as they used to make toilet brushes. The Addis 'Silver Pine' tree was actually patented in 1950. Now, does a toilet brush go into the healthy or unhealthy category?
Why Allergies and Asthma Spike During Holidays
Stored holiday items can be a source of mold growth. Fiberglass and other insulation particles, dust and mold from storage areas and other allergens can get into improperly stored holiday heirlooms. Even tightly sealed boxes can attract mice and insects, each contributing to the allergen and germ categories. Yuck !
There has been an increase in the number of people affected with asthma and allergies spiking during the holidays. Obviously, Christmas comes at a time of year when homes are most likely to be closed up to protect from winter weather. Many homes are built with wet crawl spaces and improper venting systems. With tighter construction, attic and basement storage areas are often full of mold.
Storage and Allergen Prevention Tips
The Live Versus Artificial Christmas Tree Debate
In this corner, we have live Christmas trees and decorations. Live Christmas trees are a crop. The National Christmas Tree Association states that the average Christmas tree is 7 years old when harvested. That would mean that the tree was producing oxygen to improve the environment for 7 years. Those trees require care, thereby creating American jobs.
One disadvantage of live Christmas trees is that they require replacement every year. That cost may be greater than the cost of an artificial tree across its lifetime. There is also the issue that Christmas trees need properly disposed of each year. The good news is that they can be turned into mulch.
Artificial trees are light to carry and easy to assemble. It is the only option for people who can’t handle the work of a live tree.
According to the US Commerce Department, 80% of artificial trees are manufactured and shipped from China. That would be Chinese jobs created.
Artificial Christmas trees, tree lights and plastic decorations have been subject to warnings about lead. Lead is added to PVC during manufacture to make the plastic more pliable when hanging strings of light or adjusting tree limbs. That lead is a soft material will easily fall from the products containing it when they are handled Lead is a serious health hazard, particularly to children.
The process of manufacturing the PVC creates the toxic chemical dioxin, which is also released if the plastic is burned during disposal.
“Christmas Bonus” Healthy Indoor Air Tips
If you are curious as which side of the tree discussion the Howard household falls, we have a 10’ artificial tree and a 12’ real Christmas tree. No matter which type of tree and decorations you select, have a happy, allergy and asthma free holiday.
Stop the allergens before they make their way into your home.
· Use doormats to trap allergens
· Keep windows closed when you or the neighbors cut the grass
· Make sure you have good window screens if you open the windows
· Take shoes off at the door
· Do not smoke indoors
Reduce the allergens that are created indoors
· Don’t bring dirty or dusty items into the home
· Repair any leaks. That includes plumbing, roof, basement or any other leaks
· Do not bring moldy furniture, boxes or other contents into the home
· Carefully carry dusty attic, garage or other stored items to the exterior and clean surfaces before bringing into your home
Avoid circulating allergens
· Wipe dusty areas with damp rags avoiding stirring up dust
· Use sweepers with HEPA filters, not traditional bagged sweepers
· Wash bedding often
· Dry furnishings, linens, carpets if they get wet to avoid mold
· Keep throw rugs cleaned
· Clean or change furnace filters often
· Clean air conditioner drip pans and screens often
· Clean the drip tray under refrigerators and freezers
Control indoor humidity
· Use kitchen and bath fans
· Vent these fans to the exterior, not the attic or other indoor area
· Dehumidify all areas of the home to no more than 45% relative humidity
· Run air conditioners or dehumidifiers when you are away.
· You want to maintain low humidity conditions in the hone even when you are away.
Today we are in peak Cherry Blossom season, one of the earliest dates EVER.
Due to the mild winter, the Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival Activities were moved from the original scheduled dates to earlier this year.
The Official Cheery Blossom Festival Website Statement From : http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/ )
“Every spring, nearly 1,700 Cherry Blossom trees lining Washington DC’s Tidal Basin burst into color in a beautiful display of floral fireworks. Some of the trees are now over a century old, dating back to a 1912 gift from the Japanese government. The trees around the Tidal Basin are joined in their flowering display by a couple of thousand more cherry and flowering fruit trees nearby and on the National Mall. In all, about 4,000 trees make for a spectacular floral launch to Washington's spring.”
The pictures on their site are wonderful ……and many show the important monuments on the Washington Mall as a bonus. Take a moment to enjoy this site if you have a few moments as a break.
Back to what this means to you and your heath: The warm winter was across most of the country. This means that allergy season is knocking at the door ……loudly and early!
If you, or someone you care about suffers with allergies, it is time to make the changes that reduce allergens in your home. We are here to assess your home or workplace and suggest the changes that will help mold and allergy sufferers.
After testing and treatment for mold and allergens when needed, we should reduce all of the other environmental triggers in the home.
It is a daunting task to remove all of the triggers and allergens in all of a home (or a business, store, office or any building for that matter.
What can be more manageable is to create an area of low allergens in the home. Bedroom areas are ideal for this as this is a place where people spend a lot of time breathing deeply.
Here are a couple of tips to get that process started
The bottom line is that respiratory health is an around the clock issue that deserves our attention. We need to take every precaution we can to reduce the exposures to ourselves and our loved ones.
We also need work with professionals that understand the important stake that their role plays in your health, and have the resources and skills to correct your problems.