Coughing around the Christmas tree

Festive triggers like trees, certain food and drinks and even presents could land you in hospital, warns Asthma + Lung UK BY NILUFER ATIK

- NILUFER ATIK

More than 9,000 people were admitted to hospital in England last December after having an asthma attack. The figure dropped to 6,390 in February. So what is it about Christmas that can be so deadly when it comes to lung conditions? It seems mulled wine, pretty baubles and even the strain of cooking could prompt a worsening of lung symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing and coughing, meaning you might end up spending Christmas in a hospital bed.

Asthma + Lung UK's clinical lead Dr Andrew Whittamore outlines the festive triggers to look out for and tells you how to safeguard your health...

FAKE AND REAL FRIGHTS

Christmas Tree Syndrome, where you are allergic to your Christmas tree and find symptoms of your lung condition worsening, can occur with both real and artificial trees for different reasons. Real trees and other seasonal plants like mistletoe can bring different types of mould spores and pollen into your home, which you often can't see, but multiply in the warm inside environment.

If you're sensitive to mould and pollen you may notice symptoms similar to hay fever. They can also make symptoms like wheezing and coughing worse if you have a lung condition, such as asthma.

To help reduce the risk, shake off your tree and rinse it to get rid of any mould and pollen before bringing it indoors.

With artificial trees, dust can gather on them over time when stored away and this can be a trigger if you have a lung condition. It's wise to store artificial trees in an airtight container so they don't gather dust throughout the year.

If your tree has got dusty, vacuum it or wipe it down with a damp cloth before you decorate it, or ask someone to do this for you. In a survey by Asthma + Lung UK, nearly 33% of people living with a lung condition who were questioned, said mould and fungi was a trigger for their condition and almost 50% blamed dust.

FOOD AND DRINK