Grand Canyon Times

• Though many people suffer from allergies year-round, the holiday season can be especially triggering.

• Christmas trees, wreaths and other decorations can collect mold and dust.

• The scent of pine from a fresh tree can worsen allergy and asthma symptoms.

Dr. Brian Lee of Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy Center says people who experience allergy or asthma symptoms should seek treatment as soon as possible to keep their symptoms from getting worse and improving their prognosis.

"There have been multiple studies that show that the earlier that you intervene in the disease process, the better the long-term outcomes," Lee told the Grand Canyon Times. "So you never want to wait until your sinuses are an absolute mess, because your outcomes are probably not going to be as good, and you may need repeat procedures to help to completely eliminate the infection, or the inflammation. And so the earlier we intervene, the better the patients do."

More than 40 million Americans suffer from allergies, and the holiday season can be an especially difficult time for allergy sufferers, according to WebMD. Evergreen trees, wreaths and other holiday trimmings can attract mold, a common allergy trigger. Artificial decorations help, but your decorations should be stored in dry containers to prevent mold that can form if they're stored somewhere damp, such as a basement. Decorations can also collect dust, which could set off your allergy symptoms as well.

The pine scent of Christmas trees and other decorations can also trigger allergy and asthma symptoms, according to GoodRx. Natural compounds called terpene, some of which can be found in the sap of pine trees, can irritate the eyes, nose and skin. Trees that are decorated with "flocking," or fake snow, can set off allergy or asthma symptoms, as the flocking releases small particles into the air.

Another reason to beware of your holiday decorations is the possibility of finding droppings from pests such as mice, cockroaches and spiders, which like to nest in dark, damp locations, such as basements and garages. Bins like the ones in which you keep your holiday decorations can make good hiding places because they aren't moved often.

If you'd like more information on diagnosing and treating allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.