Holiday Allergies and How to Beat Them
Here are 10 top tips for sneezers and wheezers (and possibly even congested Ebenezers).


Ah, the holiday season — lights, presents, parties. What could be better? For starters, getting through it without an allergy or asthma attack.

"The holidays can be a terrible time for someone with allergies and asthma," says Alan Goldsobel, M.D., a clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco, and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Allergies, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

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With a few special hints and a little extra care, your festivities can be enjoyable and attack-free.
Exposure to secondhand smoke. Relatives with pets. Suspect foods. Even the ever-popular Christmas tree. All these things can trigger an allergy or asthma attack.

Inspired by the classic carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” here are 10 top tips for sneezers and wheezers (and possibly even congested Ebenezers).

"On the first day of the holidays, my festivities brought to me…"

1 crowded airline flight
Your biggest risk? Peanut residue. Most airlines — but not all — have stopped serving peanuts on flights because of the risk posed to those with peanut allergies. Your best bet if you're allergic to peanuts:

Ask to be booked on a nut-free flight.
Always travel with your injectable epinephrine (EpiPen or others).
Make sure you show the airline attendant where you keep your epinephrine in case it's needed.
2 hotel rooms
Hotel rooms are nothing but repositories for dust mites and mold. Luckily, more hotels are starting to offer allergen-free rooms that have:

Wood floors
Fragrance-free toiletries
Shutters, not curtains
Air purifiers
Environmentally safe or “green” cleaning products
Nontoxic, non-mold-inducing wallpaper and furniture
It might cost a few extra bucks, but a good night's sleep is worth it.

3 smoking relatives
It's Thanksgiving, which means dinner at Aunt Twila's house with 30 of your closest relatives — several of whom smoke. “Secondhand smoke is a known asthma trigger,” says Pramod Kelkar, M.D., of Allergy & Asthma Care, PA, in Maple Grove, Minn., and a spokesperson for the AAAAI. Your best bet:

Explain why you can't tolerate any smoke
Ask them to take it outside
Sleep as far as you can from the smoke
4 scented candles
Given the smoke from fireplaces in poorly ventilated rooms, the overwhelming scent of perfume, ever-present bowls of holiday potpourri and scented candles, holiday parties can be an asthma sufferer's worst nightmare. Your best bet: “Take your medicine with you to the party,” Kelkar says, “and use it at the first sign of breathing problems.”

5 golden rings
First, consider yourself lucky if you have five golden rings. Next, make sure they're really gold. If you're prone to skin allergies such as atopic dermatitis or eczema, certain metals may cause a reaction. Other potential causes of skin reactions during the holidays come from brushing against the evergreen tree, trying that new almond-scented lotion you found in your stocking, and slipping on those dangling earrings from your boyfriend that are made from nickel. Your best bet: Let friends and relatives know of any allergies you have to metals, scented creams and other items. And, if you're gifted with something you can't use, smile, say thank you and exchange the item for something else.

6 cats and dogs
You love your brother, but his two golden retrievers and four long-haired cats just make you miserable. Unfortunately, even putting the pet in a kennel or another room won't help because it's the dander you're allergic to, not the animal itself. Your best bet: “Take an antihistamine before visiting and as needed while you're there,” Kelkar says. And limit your time in the home. If you're visiting from afar, it's probably best to check into a hotel.

7 Christmas trees
Whether real or fake, Christmas trees don't mix with allergies and asthma. Live trees cut in early fall and stored have plenty of time to accumulate mold, Kelkar notes. Meanwhile, artificial trees that have been up in a dusty attic or damp basement all year bear their own mold and dust. If you simply must have a tree, find a retailer with a shaking machine, which can get rid of loose needles and mold. If you go the artificial route, take the tree (and other such decorations) outside and clean it with warm, soapy water. Same goes for fabric decorations, as well as plastic, tin, glass or ceramic ornaments.

8 kinds of stress
There's no doubt that the holidays are stressful — all that running around, dealing with money issues and confronting ancient family tensions. And stress, as you may know, can trigger an asthma attack. “Take time out for yourself and practice deep breathing to calm yourself whenever you begin feeling overwhelmed,” Kelkar suggests. A strong social network and realistic expectations also can help keep your stress in check.

9 poinsettias
They're beautiful but dangerous, especially if you're allergic to rubber (latex). Seems this popular holiday decoration shares some common allergen proteins with latex. Your best bet: Stay clear.

10 cookie tins
Do you know what's in those cookies — and the sweet potatoes, the turkey dressing and the intriguing dip on the buffet table? If you have food allergies, traversing the holiday season can be like tiptoeing through a minefield, Goldsobel says. “You must have increased awareness,” he says, “and keep your epinephrine handy.” Other options:

Eat before the party.
Tell the host or hostess about your food allergies a week beforehand.
Bring a dish to pass made with foods you know you can eat.
The holiday season presents a world of triggers and challenges for people with allergies and asthma. With a few special hints and a little extra care, your festivities can be enjoyable and attack-free.

From Revolution Health

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