Dust and Christmas trees
So, after two asthma attacks this weekend, one following getting several folders of music out of an exceptionally dusty room and then one following getting a very dusty Christmas tree out of the garage, I am starting to wonder if I maybe have a dust allergy. Dust has never particularly bothered me in the past so I’m not 100% confident that that is the cause.
I was just wondering, just in case it is the dust, does anyone have any super tips for living with dusty Christmas decorations in the house? Does it get better after the first couple of days when the dust dies down? Does anyone have any suggestions on how to reduce the dust? Or how to deal with the flare up caused by the dust?
I have taken my reliever inhaler with a spacer and I’ve taken an antihistamine. Is there anything else I can do to help? I am no longer in the same room as the h Christmas tree but my airways still seem very irritated.
Hi.
Interestingly, I have dealt with a dust mite allergy my entire life, and do have some tips for you. First of all, it is possible to develop a dust mite allergy at any point in your life. Although, to determine for certain if this is what you have, it may be best to talk to your personal physician. Although, sometimes, just knowing that you experience these symptoms after exposure to dusty things (such as old Christmas trees or old folders), can be proof enough that this is what you have. Also, I can't tell you what to do over the Internet, for your own safety of course. How to manage your asthma is best done with consultation by your own doctor. That said, I think I can tell you what works for me. What I do, as you did, once I experience symptoms, is remove myself from the trigger. Often times, this alone makes me feel better. If not, I use my rescue inhaler and an anti histamine. Based on my experience, once a tree is up, it is usually fine. It's getting it out of the box, and setting it up, that moves the dust mites around. Once they settle, it's usually fine for me to be around the tree. I have actually written about this somewhat in a few past articles, such as this one (https://asthma.net/uncategorized/my-christmas-tree-dilemma-solved). You can check it out if you want. Does this help? John. asthma.net community moderator. Thank you for sharing your experience. I certainly hope that I will start feeling better soon. My airways are still irritated after being away from the living room for almost 12 hours. Having read your linked article, I wonder if it may have to become my husband’s job from now on! (Until we buy a fancy, new, pre-lot tree!)
Hi Han-El, and thanks for your response and further explanation. I am glad to hear the article for which my colleague, , provided a link, resonated so clearly with you.
I thought you might gain some additional insight from this article which focuses on asthma and dust mites, too: https://asthma.net/living/dust-mites. Perhaps, once your husband is aware of all this, and how it affects you, he will take on this responsibility going forward.
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)Glad to hear you are feeling better after being away from the tree. A pre-lit tree is exactly what I have in my home. And I am fortunate that my girlfriend an my daughters put it up this year so that I did not have to go through a similar experience as you did. It is so nice when you have people to help you like that. If your husband could do this task for you in the future that may bode well for you. Here is wishing you all the best as we enter into the holiday season. 😀 John. asthma.net community moderator.
