To keep sneezing and wheezing at bay, follow these expert tips
TUESDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Colder temperatures can bring some relief to those allergic to mold and pollen. But winter doesn't mean the end of runny noses, itchy eyes and wheezing for asthma and allergy sufferers.
Spending more time indoors can mean more problems with dust mites, pet dander, cigarette smoke, gas fumes and household sprays and chemicals, any of which can trigger asthma symptoms.
Even the beloved Christmas tree can harbor mold spores that can bring on an allergic reaction, said Dr. David J. Resnick, director of allergy and immunology at New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, New York City.
"Mold grows anywhere and needs little more than moisture and oxygen to thrive," Resnick said.
Resnick and Dr. Stefan Worgall, chief of pulmonology, allergy and immunology at the Komansky Center for Children's Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, offer these tips for minimizing the chances of an allergic reaction or asthma flare-up during the holidays:
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has more on preventing allergic reactions.
-- Jennifer Thomas
SOURCE: New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, December 29, 2009
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