ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE?Byline: Susan McRoberts Staff Writer WHITTIER - That stuffy nose and cough may not be the start of the flu. It might be what some allergy specialists call ``Christmas tree Christmas tree Evergreen tree, usually decorated with lights and ornaments, to celebrate the Christmas season. The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands as symbols of eternal life was common among the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. syndrome.'' Most hay fever sufferers expect allergies to end when summer is over, but for certain people, symptoms sometimes return with the holiday season. For those unfortunate few, terpene terpene /ter·pene/ (ter´pen) any hydrocarbon of the formula C10H16. ter·pene n. Any of various unsaturated hydrocarbons in essential oils and certain resins of plants and used in organic , a substance found in the oil and sap of evergreen trees, can trigger Christmas-time hay fever, said Dr. Clifford W. Bassett of ENT ENT ears, nose, and throat (otorhinolaryngology). ENT abbr. ear, nose, and throat ENT ear, nose and throat. ENT Ears, nose & throat; formally, otorhinolaryngology and Allergy Associates in New York. ``There are a lot of people who are allergic to Christmas trees,'' said Dr. Eugene P. O'Donnell, an allergy and sinus specialist in Whittier. ``It is not unusual for someone to be sensitive to the sap of the pine.'' O'Donnell said prescription or over-the-counter antihistamines Antihistamines Definition Antihistamines are drugs that block the action of histamine (a compound released in allergic inflammatory reactions) at the H1 , including Claritin and Chlor-Trimeton or Contac, can protect the allergy sufferer. People allergic to evergreens also should take medication before heading up to the mountains, he advised. ``Don't wait until your nose stuffs up or your sinuses start running. And you might consider Benadryl,'' he added. ``Believe it or not, Benadryl is as good an allergy tablet as is made.'' Patients sometimes balk balk the action of a horse when it refuses to obey a command to which it usually responds. See also jibbing. at using Benadryl, O'Donnell said, because the medication - diphenhydramine hydrochloride - can sometimes cause extreme drowsiness. In fact, diphenhydramine hydrochloride is the major ingredient in over-the-counter sleep aids. However, with regular use, the drowsiness side-effect usually subsides, physicians said. Although Henry Bikhazi, a Whittier physician, has not seen patients complaining of pine tree sensitivity, he said Santa Ana winds Santa Ana Winds may refer to: 1. Santa Ana wind, a local Southern California reference to Föhn winds, a meteorological phenomenon occurring as a layer of wind is forced over a mountain range -- drying the air -- which then passes over the crest and begins to move downslope -- and blowing dust can cause year-round symptoms. Also, as a Christmas tree dries out, it collects dust on the branches, and the water in the bowl under the tree can become ``a breeding ground for mold,'' according to Dr. Jonathan Field at New York University New York University, mainly in New York City; coeducational; chartered 1831, opened 1832 as the Univ. of the City of New York, renamed 1896. It comprises 13 schools and colleges, maintaining 4 main centers (including the Medical Center) in the city, as well as the Medical Center. Party hosts should also be sensitive to the concerns of allergic guests, Field added. ``If you don't know if your guests have allergies, call and ask them,'' he advised, adding that hosts can vacuum right before the party and can keep the family pet away from allergic guests. Susan McRoberts, (562) 698-0955 sue.mcroberts(at)sgvn.com |
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