Script

CHRISTMAS ALLERGIES
Mark Millard, MD, Pulmonologist, Baylor Scott & White Health

{**ON CAM**}
IF YOU’RE CONSIDERING LEAVING A BOX OF TISSUES NEXT TO THE CHRISTMAS COOKIES – COULD CHRISTMAS ACTUALLY BE THE CAUSE OF YOUR SNIFFLES?

{**TAKE VO**}
TRT:

PULMONOLOGIST MARK MILLARD SAYS IT’S POSSIBLE – LIVE CHRISTMAS TREES CAN BE A BIG TRIGGER FOR ALLERGY SUFFERERS… BUT NOT FOR THE REASON YOU MAY THINK

{**TAKE SOT**}
Mark Millard, MD
Baylor Scott & White Health
TRT: 15
If they're using a live tree, it's a pine tree and those aren't pollinating in the middle of winter, but they are live things that are dying. And what grows on dying things is mold. And when you look at studies that have actually measured pollen counts indoors, mold pollen counts before and after a Christmas tree has been there for a week or two. They're 10 times higher. So, mold allergies are a real cause of Christmas tree allergies.

{**ON CAM**}
SO, COULD AN ARTIFICIAL TREE BE THE SOLUTION? DR. MILLARD SAYS ONLY IF YOU’VE DONE A GOOD JOB KEEPING IT DUST-FREE. AND IF IT’S FLOCKED WITH THAT FAUX-WHITE SNOW? THAT’S ESPECIALLY TRICKY – BECAUSE THE CHEMICALS IN FLOCKING CAN TRIGGER ASTHMA ATTACKS.