Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
Subscribe
YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

Are Christmas trees poisonous to cats?

Are Christmas trees poisonous to cats?

When should you take down your Christmas tree?

When should you take down your Christmas tree?

Best places in Australia to buy a real Christmas tree

Best places in Australia to buy a real Christmas tree

DIY Christmas tree for wine lovers

DIY Christmas tree for wine lovers

{headline}

{headline}

Is this Australia's most popular Christmas tree?

Is this Australia's most popular Christmas tree?

9 stunning ways to decorate your Christmas tree

9 stunning ways to decorate your Christmas tree

Spruce Up Your Home With These Exclusive Wooden Decorations!

Spruce Up Your Home With These Exclusive Wooden Decorations!

{headline}

{headline}

How to improve the air quality in your home

How to improve the air quality in your home

When's the correct date to put up your Christmas tree?

When's the correct date to put up your Christmas tree?

How to clean up Christmas tree needles

How to clean up Christmas tree needles

You'll want to make this fun festive food

You'll want to make this fun festive food

This woman has over 100 Christmas trees in her home

This woman has over 100 Christmas trees in her home

Snowman Christmas trees are now trending

Snowman Christmas trees are now trending

What’s the right way to hang your Christmas tree lights?

What’s the right way to hang your Christmas tree lights?

  1. Home
  2. Health

How to avoid the Christmas tree wheezes and sneezes

Stop those pesky allergies. - by Laura Barry
  • 04 Dec 2018

Putting up the Christmas tree is one thing almost every child (and many adults!) look forward to each December.

How to avoid the Christmas tree wheezes and sneezes

It’s a sign that Christmas has well and truly arrived when Christmas trees start popping up in shopping centres, town squares and house windows. However, did you know that the humble Christmas tree can also irritate those with allergies or asthma?

Being allergic to Christmas tees is an illness many people suffer from and symptoms include coughing, wheezing, sneezing, sore eyes and asthma attacks.

Real Christmas trees such as Cypress and Pine trees can collect high amounts of pollen that is shed by other plants, and this pollen is what can irritate those with sensitive allergies once the tree is brought indoors.

couple cutting down christmas tree
Getty

National Asthma Council Australia Chief Executive Officer Siobhan Brophy said that that most people are unaware that real Christmas trees can harbour pollen and can trigger asthma and hay fever symptoms, especially when they are displayed indoors.

“Pollen can have a big impact causing your asthma symptoms to get worse.

“Artificial trees can be a safe alternative but, if used year after year, they accumulate dust, dust mites and even mould in storage,” Ms Brophy said.

“Even the most exciting part of the Christmas tree tradition – decorating – can put you at risk too, if decorations in storage have become dusty.

man bringing christmas tree inside
Getty

The National Asthma Council Australia recommends doing these things to minimise allergies and asthma attacks this holiday season.

  1. Hose down a live tree before bringing it inside to help wash off potential allergens.
  2. If you notice increased allergy symptoms once the tree is brought inside, move it outside.
  3. Give artificial trees a good shake outdoors to remove dust and debris before bringing it inside.
  4. Give artificial tree and decorations a vacuum before bringing them inside.
  5. Wipe down all artificial garlands and decorations with a damp cloth to get rid of dust.
  6. Use airtight bags and boxes to pack Christmas paraphernalia away each year.

You might also like:

Fake Christmas trees are bad for the environment and your health 

This is the correct date to put up your Christmas tree

6 Christmas tree alternatives

  • Health
  • Christmas Decorating, Tips & Traditions
Laura Barry
Laura Barry
Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Subscribe for $4.95 per issue

Subscribe Now
Get your mag delivered!

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Subscribe for $4.95 per issue

Subscribe Now
Get your mag delivered!

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

Are Christmas trees poisonous to cats?

Are Christmas trees poisonous to cats?

When should you take down your Christmas tree?

When should you take down your Christmas tree?

Best places in Australia to buy a real Christmas tree

Best places in Australia to buy a real Christmas tree

DIY Christmas tree for wine lovers

DIY Christmas tree for wine lovers

{headline}

{headline}

Is this Australia's most popular Christmas tree?

Is this Australia's most popular Christmas tree?

9 stunning ways to decorate your Christmas tree

9 stunning ways to decorate your Christmas tree

Spruce Up Your Home With These Exclusive Wooden Decorations!

Spruce Up Your Home With These Exclusive Wooden Decorations!

{headline}

{headline}

How to improve the air quality in your home

How to improve the air quality in your home

When's the correct date to put up your Christmas tree?

When's the correct date to put up your Christmas tree?

How to clean up Christmas tree needles

How to clean up Christmas tree needles

You'll want to make this fun festive food

You'll want to make this fun festive food

This woman has over 100 Christmas trees in her home

This woman has over 100 Christmas trees in her home

Snowman Christmas trees are now trending

Snowman Christmas trees are now trending

What’s the right way to hang your Christmas tree lights?

What’s the right way to hang your Christmas tree lights?

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Shop This Offer
Get your mag delivered!