Single Parents and the single family:  At holiday time, particularly Christmas, millions of singles decorate our homes, bring in trees, branches, mistletoe, holly berries, etc., to fill our house with holiday spirit, prepare foods using processed ingredients, and inadvertently trigger allergies and asthma in our family and friends.

Single Parents: Avoiding Allergies and Asthma During Holidays 

By Jan Wilson

Single parents: Whereas holiday traditions are   tolerable to great for most of us, allergy and asthma sufferers find the holiday season holds several potential triggers. 

More information about being a single parent: 

At holiday time, particularly Christmas, millions of us decorate our homes, bring in trees, branches, mistletoe, holly berries, etc., to fill our house with holiday spirit, prepare foods using processed ingredients,  and inadvertently trigger allergies and asthma in our family and friends.

We burn candles, light fires, and bring out dusty holiday decorations. 

We eat more highly allergic foods such as dairy. In fact, food allergies can be very hard to avoid because of hidden ingredients in many procuessed foods.

Whereas holiday traditions are   tolerable to great for most of us, allergy and asthma sufferers find the holiday season holds several potential triggers. 

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) offers these tips to help allergy and asthma sufferers get through the holidays in prime health by avoiding allergy triggers.

1. Wash fabric decorations (even a flag) in hot, soapy water before displaying.

2. When attending holiday parties, inform the host about your food allergy and ask about the ingredients used to prepare the meal. (Remember hidden ingredients in foods.)

3. Use plastic, metal or glass decorations that cannot trap dust mites.

4. Carry self-injectable epinephrine in case you accidentally eat a food to which you are allergic. Homemade items do not have ingredient lists and can be contaminated with trace amounts of allergenic foods through contact with storage containers, baking sheets and utensils.

5. Remind family members and friends that strict avoidance is the only way to manage food allergies and even one little bite can hurt.

6. If visiting relatives' homes who have pets, take medication before arriving to minimize a possible reaction.

7. The holidays can be a very stressful time of year. Pay attention to your stress level, which can sometimes lead to an asthma attack.

8. Ask your relatives and friends to avoid burning wood in the fireplace. The smoke can trigger an asthma attack.

9. Dust mites can be especially troubling when traveling away from home, take your own pillow with an allergen-proof cover and request down-free pillows if staying in a hotel.

If using Christmas trees, artificial or live, or spraying artificial snow, adhere to the following tips:

Being a single parent and raising a single family:

1. Before decorating a live Christmas tree, allow it to dry out on an enclosed porch or garage. You also may want to explore whether the tree retailer has a shaking machine, which will physically remove some allergens from the tree.

2. Clean artificial Christmas trees outside before decorating. They can gather mold and dust in storage.

3. When spraying artificial snow on windows or other surfaces, be sure to follow directions. These sprays can irritate your lungs if you inhale them.

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