During the holidays, we look forward to taking vacation from work, spending bonding time with loved ones and having fun with friends as the year comes to a close. The last thing we want to deal with is feeling unwell.

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For people who suffer from environmental allergies or asthma, there are holiday-season triggers to keep in mind, whether you’re staying home to celebrate or traveling afar. Allergies and asthma are closely related in some people, with allergens causing simultaneous asthma symptoms as well.

“The holidays are a time for family and fun but also allergens can lurk nearby,” Dr. Andrew Murphy, an allergist in West Chester, Pennsylvania, told weather.com. “If you’re an allergy or asthma sufferer, pay attention to the seasonal triggers and be prepared.”

If you’re traveling, don’t forget to bring all of your medicines, inhalers and nasal sprays, and if you’re flying, make sure to stow them in your carry-on, not checked, bags.

Click ahead to read about allergens and irritants that can cause sneezing and wheezing during the season of joy, including mold, dust mites and dogs and cats.

Mold and Dust

Many of us wait all year long to enjoy the smell of a fresh Christmas tree in our home. For some people, though, the scent can be an irritant that triggers allergy symptoms like coughing, wheezing and a runny nose, Murphy says.

“Usually it’s the fragrance that’s the issue,” Murphy said. “The smell can be an irritant. It’s not an allergen per se.”

Less often, though, there is mold on the tree that’s causing the sneezing in people who are allergic.

“A lot of people do report they get sneezy around live Christmas trees,” Dr. Stacy Dorris, a pediatric allergist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told weather.com. “It may be from mold spores that are present on the tree and are released into the home.”  

Murphy said mold or pollen could get trapped in the tree’s branches and needles and be released into the air when you’re setting it up at home, triggering allergy or asthma symptoms.

“There are some people that just don’t tolerate the pollen and mold that can come off the tree,” he said.

If you’re concerned, give your tree a good shake outside and or in the garage and wait a while to “let everything settle before you bring it in the house,” Murphy said.

Or, if a live tree is too problematic, consider an artificial one.

Remember that when you bring an artificial tree or other holiday decorations up from the basement, watch out for mold or dust. Dust can be irritating and contain allergens like dust mites, dog and cat allergen, pollen and mold.

“If they’re stored improperly, those could get dust and mold from the basement on them,” Murphy said.

Clean dusty decorations outside, or better yet, if you’re sensitive, have someone else do it. If the decorations are moldy, consider throwing them out or cleaning them with bleach if possible.

When storing holiday items at the end of the season, make sure they are dry, to avoid mold growth, and in a closed container to keep dust away.

Pets

We might forget that the friend we’re going to visit has a pet, or perhaps not yet know we’re allergic or just have intermittent symptoms if we’re not around furry animals that often. If you do have a pet allergy, staying in a home with a pet can put a damper on the festivities.

“If you’re staying for the weekend, that can be a real crisis for families,” Dorris said.

“All of the sudden your nose is running, you’re super-congested and feel run down or fatigued,” she said. “It can be difficult to differentiate, is this a cold or an allergy, particularly if you don’t know if you’re allergic to dogs or cats.”

For people with known pet allergies, if possible, try to stop by a home with pets before you visit to see how bothersome they are, Dorris recommended. When you do visit a home with dogs or cats, be sure to follow your allergist’s plan, including medication, she says.

“I tell patients that they should utilize their daily antihistamine, preferably 20 to 30 minutes before they arrive, so they have it on board, ready to prevent that big histamine release when they get exposed to the pet allergen,” she said. “If you can prevent those allergy symptoms from coming on, you’ll be better then if they started and you try to treat it after the fact.”

Tip for pet parents: Putting your dog or cat outside or in the basement really doesn’t do much to help allergy sufferers because it takes several months for the allergens to clear out, Dorris said.

“Pet allergen is very persistent in the environment,” Dorris said. “Letting your beloved dog out 20 minutes before your favorite dog-allergic uncle comes over is probably not even remotely close to helping. The allergen is tenacious.”

If you or your allergic children pet the animals, wash hands and change clothing afterward to minimize the risk of a reaction, she recommended.

Cockroach

Most holiday hosts who have a roach problem probably aren’t going to let guests know about that ahead of time like they might with a dog or a cat.

But for people who have a cockroach allergy and live in a roach-free home, those hidden-until-they’re-not critters can trigger allergy symptoms like congestion, sneezing and a runny nose and watery eyes, Dorris said.

“You feel like you’re coming down with a cold if you’re allergic to it,” she said.

Dust Mites

If you are sensitive to this allergen and you’re spending the night away from home, you might want to pack your own pillow with a dust mite cover, Dorris recommended.

Dust mites are microscopic insects that often live in bedding, upholstered furniture and carpets. If you’re allergic and exposed to the allergen, you might wake up with allergy symptoms, not a fun way to start the day.

“When you’re face to face with that allergen all night long with a pillow, it can be significant,” Dorris said. “Most people tend to exhibit those symptoms upon waking. They go to bed fine and wake up feeling terrible and it’s because of that all-night exposure.”

Cold Air

Cold, dry air can be a trigger for asthma, Murphy said. Minimize your time outside in very cold air by letting someone else help build the snowman and skipping the pre-dinner stroll. If you have to be outside in the cold, wrap a scarf around your mouth and nose to help warm the air you breathe in.

Stress

The holidays may feel synonymous with stress, but stress can lead to an asthma attack.

“Some people, when they get stressed, they’ll have an asthma flare,” Murphy said, recommending that people try to minimize their stressful holiday triggers.

Smoke

Make sure the fireplace is properly vented as smoke that fills a room can be an irritant that causes coughing and wheezing, Murphy said. If you have the misfortune of being around a smoker, move away from that person.

General Health

Viruses are potent triggers for asthma attacks, Murphy said. Wash your hands and avoid touching your face. “And if you know someone is getting sick, stay away from that person the best you can,” he said.