Is Christmas time a trigger for your ... - Asthma Community ...
Is Christmas time a trigger for your asthma ? If yes, we would love to hear about your triggers please document below.
sulfites, emotions eg laughing, stress etc, dust from getting out decorations, catching germs from extra socialising, cold air and just generally overdoing things
Scented candles really make my asthma and COPD worse.
stress - rushing around and doing too much to prepare for Christmas;, dust from Christmas decorations; catching germs due to more socialising; cold weather; drying more items in the house instead of outside.
Every year! This last week I’ve had to use my flutter every morning and extra inhalers during the day. Also been very, very tired. It’s like clockwork and our local surgery no longer lets us have rescue packs of steroids
Winter in general, plus stress and tiredness, dusty Christmas decorations, scents from candles, perfumes and aftershaves, emotions
My main trigger is alcohol, and Christmas is a nightmare because it's in food and drink everywhere. I've had to leave more than one Christmas event because they had mulled wine in the entrance and the smell was so strong I couldn't even walk inside the building. And I've had so many major flareups after eating food that contained alcohol - even when I explain to someone that even a tiny amount is an issue, and yes, even when it's in something that has been cooked, they still decide that I'm 'making a fuss' and that I'm 'imagining' my symptoms. I'm fed up with being told food is safe for me to eat, only to find out 10 minutes later that it really wasn't!
The most annoying times are when I try to hide that I'm feeling terrible because I don't want to upset someone who has genuinely made a mistake in thinking their food was safe for me - only to have them come up to me later and smugly tell me that they've 'proved' my symptoms are all in my mind because "the food I gave you yesterday had alcohol in it, and you were fine." Um, no, I wasn't - I just hid in the bathroom so you wouldn't see me fighting for breath.
It's not helped by cookery 'experts' telling people that cooked alcohol is fine - it's not their place to decide on the severity of other people's allergies. The only person who gets to decide what will trigger a person's allergy is the person who has the allergy.
scents, being over tired, all as below.
Real Christmas trees, wrapping paper, dust on boxed decorations, changes in temperature, more people out and about so smells of perfumes, risk of catching germs, wood/coal fires, emotions....
Scented candles, Mulled wine, Perfume sets along with the cold weather are triggers.
Wasn't sure what to reply - my triggers aren't Christmas-specific but there probably are more of them at Christmas like scented items. I remember unwrapping a nice gift of Neal's Yard shampoo and conditioner once...with lavender essential oil! That was quietly donated. I struggle with what to tell people who give me dangerous gifts, some of which can be hazardous just to open. I appreciate the thought and don't want to upset them, but then if I don't tell them it may happen again!
I've also had problems when I've given people gifts I know they like and they're triggers for me. I'm so glad you like the Acqua di Parma, now can you wrap it up again and put it over there?😂 I feel bad they can't enjoy their present in the moment but they can after all still enjoy it at other times.
Oh and chocolate boxes. I love them but I have to know what's in them before I try. My godmother once said 'oh it's more fun not to know'. Ahaha no it isn't, I'm not playing Chocolate Russian Roulette! (Actually I prefer to know what I'm getting even without asthma. I once bit into a chocolate that had pear liqueur in it without realising. I hate pear taste and biting into a liqueur chocolate is never a good idea - dribbled it all over myself and an expensive carpet.)
I never think it's worthwhile telling people not to gift certain things as most people won't remember - and those that do will likely have noticed that you never use whatever it is in the first place, so will be unlikely to gift you something they know you don't use. I've been given wine three years running by someone who has heard multiple times that alcohol is a trigger!
Agree it's hard wth Presents from others like from lush which I got one year I can't even walk near a lush shop let alone opening a box full of their stuff. Luckily they weren't present when I opened it and so gave it too my sister who was well chuffed lol
I'm triggered by a roast cooking caused by the fat molecules in the air (my husband cooks Christmas dinner while I prepare as much as possible beforehand then stay out of the kitchen until it's been aired). Sulphites in wine, changes in temperature as well as perfume. Also wood burning stoves.I let friends and family know perfume is a trigger for me as well as wine. Mostly they pay attention but the more ignorant less respectful ones who don't know much about asthma have found out when I start wheezing etc. My son in law has always avoided wearing aftershave etc when around me, I am very grateful that he does.
Personally as I've got older I never try to hide my symptoms as asthma can be dangerous and education about it I think is important.
scented anything but especially scented candles.
Real Christmas trees, dust from decorations, perfumes
Stress through the roof then being off work as soon as I relax and don't have work to keep me going and my mind on something else my asthma goes into overdrive. Going from freezing then hot with central heating never good. Then scented candles and visits to family that have cut trees argh. Not a Bah humbug but not a fan of certain parts of the festive time of year. Keep well and hope everyone has a lovely Christmas.
getting the Christmas tree and decs out,the dust always gets me.wood burners, perfume,germs in general.freezing weather.Merry Christmas everyone i hope you all have a lovely time.and stay as healthy as possible xxx
Stress is a major factor of many people’s asthma, including mine, as well as perfume, and sulphites in wine - although wine or any kind of alcohol is now on my banned list because of two very strong medications I have to take for fibromyalgia, arthritis and generalised pain throughout my body - plus, excruciating pain in lower back that gets made worse if I’m riding my mobility scooter, going over bumps or gravel/shingle with my wheeled walker - or riding in car when it goes over speed bumps , potholes etc. it really makes my eyes cross….😊
Stress! Scents and Christmas candles. Social viruses. I avoid all alcohol due to sensitivity to sulphites (but Brandy is for sore throat and colds). Over eating; so much of what we buy is liberally made with palm oil and that's a big trigger, but it's all too tempting (M&S Yule log 😋). We adhere to a strict present list within the family, good for avoiding scent triggers and over spending. Friends - we now don't exchange presents and go out instead, avoiding scented pressies.
My biggest concern though is the current rate of viruses doing the rounds, including covid. 🤔
Real Christmas trees, anything scented so socialising where lots of people have put on perfume/aftershave, scented candles, shops with perfume sections including chemists where run the gauntlet to get to pharmacy counter at back to collect meds (try to get friends pick up for me ATM as it's so bad), emotions/stress as too many bad memories/anniversaries at this time
If we meet at my brother's house, then I have to live with two cats.
Candles highyscented perfumes cleaning products and very cold air temperature
