The Asthma Society Calls On People With Asthma To Be Vigilant With Their Asthma Over The Festive Period

Real Christmas trees or any festive greenery such as holly and mistletoe often contain mold which will thrive in a warm environment.  To reduce the impact of the tree on your asthma you should hose it down before you bring it into your home and keep it in the coolest part of your house. Remove the tree from your home immediately if you notice it triggering your asthma symptoms.

Artificial Christmas trees and decorations often gather mold and dust. If your asthma is triggered by mold/dust, it is important to damp dust the tree/decorations when they are removed from storage. After Christmas, before putting the decorations back into storage, remove any dust that may have accumulated on them over the Christmas period.  Wrap them in plastic before storage.

Open Fires are a tradition for many people during the Christmas season. However they emit smoke and fumes, which triggers asthma for many people. Try to avoid being in a room with an open fire where possible, and burn smokeless fuel instead of smoky fuels.

Stress is a common trigger for people with asthma and people often get stressed around Christmas time. If you are unable to get your stress under control, speak to someone, family, friend or even consider speaking to a professional. Medication and yoga works very well to relieve stress in many people.  

Scented Candles which are a common gift at Christmas, can be a big trigger for people with asthma. Use non-scented candles or LED candles instead and if you are given a scented candle, consider re-gifting it.

 Alcohol contains histamines and sulphites which can trigger asthma in some people. If you know a certain drink triggers your asthma, avoid it.

Weather changes can have a huge effect on people with asthma, especially the cold weather during winter. Breathe through a scarf when outdoors to help filter the cold air. Try to exercise indoors instead of outside to avoid the cold air. Check out the Asthma Society’s Winter Wellness Guide on asthma.ie for tips on managing asthma during the Winter.

Cigarette smoke is another common asthma trigger which many will be exposed to over the Christmas season. If you have asthma you should not smoke. If you come into contact with someone who is smoking you should remind them of your asthma and ask them to stop.

Colds and flus are very common at this time of the year and are also a very common trigger for people with asthma. People with asthma should speak to their Healthcare professional about availing of the flu vaccine, practice good hand hygiene, and try to avoid other people who have a cold/flu.

Cleaning products - many people choose to clean their houses before or after the Christmas holidays.  Many common cleaning products trigger asthma. If your asthma is triggered by these products, use natural cleaning agents such as lemon and water or baking soda and vinegar instead.

Food which is often consumed in large amounts during the festive season can contain ingredients that people with asthma are allergic to, which can trigger their asthma. If you know you are allergic to a certain food, avoid it. Let your friends know in advance of any allergies you may have.

COVID-19 is still an issue even though it is Christmas. It is extremely important that we all work together to stop the spread of this deadly disease. Follow the HSE’s advice and measures to help prevent its spread. This is available on the HSE’s website: hse.ie.