As we draw to a close this year, I would first like to wish everyone a Very Happy Christmas and New Year. We hope the season brings joy and peace with family and friends. However, this is a time when accidents can happen as you lower your guard. So we've compiled some tips from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology:
For those with mold allergy:
Avoid live Christmas trees as they tend to gather spores in their bark that can easily trigger allergy and asthma symptoms. If you do wish to keep a live tree treating the bark with a mild bleach solution can help removing mold. Also limiting the Christmas tree indoors to a few days will also help reducing the symptoms. However, the safest would be to replace the live tree with an artificial tree which will carry no mold and very little dust.
If you have a food allergy, take additional precautions:
Here are some seasonal foods that can have unexpected allergens:
Brussels sprouts can come garnished with shaved almonds. Cranberry sauce: Some recipes can have slivered almonds as hidden ingredients Marzipan and praline both have tree nuts as ingredients Eat Smart: The greatest risk is from catered food where there is no ingredient list, so people need to ask direct questions at parties, in restaurants, at buffets and at other social events. Don't worry about making a fuss. When you visit friends, make them aware of your allergy.
Alcoholic Drinks: In Europe (and several states in the US) it is now a rule that any of the 14 ingredients should be clearly labeled in all alcoholic drinks. Here is the list:
Egg, milk, fish, crustaceans (crab, lobster, crawfish, shrimp), mollusks (snail, mussel, clam, squid, oyster), peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, cereals (wheat, oat, rye, barley etc.), soy beans, celery and celeriac, mustard, lupine, sulfites.
Some alcoholic drinks like Bombay Sapphire Gin are mixed with a mixture of ingredients including almond oil. Other alcoholic drinks containing nuts include Frangelico, Nocello and Cr�me de Noix.
If you haven't tried something and don't know what's in it, it's best not to risk it. Do your homework and read labels on common or popular drinks, spirits and mixers, looking for ingredients lists and 'contains' boxes to find out which are affected by your allergen(s) then stick to 'safe' options when out and about.
Remember, too, that alcohol consumption may reduce your vigilance and could also make any allergic reaction more severe.
Wherever you go during the holiday season, make sure your emergency Epipen medication is with you.
DON'T FORGET If you have an allergy to tree nuts or peanuts, before friends and family plant a kiss make sure they rinse their mouth first.Serious reactions do occur.
For those with asthma: Medicate before you go, pre treat with your albuterol inhaler but keep it handy. If you did get exposed to a trigger you could take another couple of puffs.
Plan Well. Be Safe