Could Common Christmas Decoration Potentially Make Michigan Residents Ill?

Itchy? Stuffy? Sneezy? It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Perhaps you are one of the unfortunate ones, like myself, who learned the hard way winter allergies do in fact exist. Wonderful.

In addition to my humidifier I'm also digging my Christmas decorations out of storage, but wait, what if I told you all that holiday cheer you're bringing down from the attic could be the culprit?

Real or Fake?

One of the most important decisions you make this holiday season may be whether to put up a real or artificial Christmas tree this year. Unfortunately, neither option keeps you safe from something known as Christmas Tree Syndrome.

Medical experts at Ohio State have looked into this holiday phenomenon after receiving multiple complaints from patients suffering from rashes, stuffy noses, and asthma attacks explaining,

People who notice their allergies worsening this time of year might experience what’s sometimes called Christmas tree syndrome, or Christmas tree dermatitis if you get the rash...[however] the pine pollen, a common allergen other times of the year, is not the main irritant lurking in your fresh-cut tree

Researchers expect the average Christmas tree to contain more than 50 different types of mold. Yuck! Don't expect artificial trees to be any cleaner, however.

Think about not only where you store your artificial tree, but how well you store it too. Whether you store it in your Michigan basement or the attic, chances are that tree is still exposed to plenty of dusty and moisture that helps mold thrive.  To avoid Christmas Tree Syndrome altogether experts recommend:

• Hosing down your real tree to wash away dirt; thoroughly dust fake trees
• Dust off ornaments and decorations each year
• Cover your skin when handling and setting up real trees
• Upgrade storage for fake tree
• Relocate air purifiers to decorated rooms