Oh, Christmas Tree Syndrome

“Christmas Tree Syndrome” doesn’t sound like such a bad thing. You’d think symptoms would include brightly blinking lights, too much tinsel and an overload of ornaments. Well, think again.

Often, people who are hit with a cold during the holiday season don’t realize they are actually suffering from their Christmas tree. Sneezing, wheezing, coughing, itchy nose, watery eyes and trouble sleeping can all be triggered by a fresh Christmas tree, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Read more at GlobalPost: Christmas, Inc: Inside a Thai Christmas tree factory

The condition is caused by mold growing on trees, and symptoms start when their spores are breathed in. Scientists at the Upstate Medical University, part of the State University of New York discovered the syndrome after observing a peak in respiratory illnesses in the weeks surrounding December 25, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The mold grows on trees naturally, but releases its spores once it is the warm and toasty confines of your home. This doesn’t necessarily mean everyone should end their tradition of a real tree and invest in a faux tree for the future. “If you and your children don’t have any obvious allergies, then it is probably not going to bother you,” said lead researcher Dr. Lawrence Kurlandsky, Time reported.

Kurlandsky and his team examined clippings from 28 Christmas trees, including needles and bark, and found 53 cases of mold, the Daily Telegraph reported. Of these clippings, 70 percent can cause the symptoms listed above, including sinus congestion or even lead to long term lung problems and conditions such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Another study done by the team found that a Christmas tree on display for more than two weeks had an increased number of airborne spores.

So, maybe Charlie Brown’s friends really did like his tree, they were just allergic to it.

If you are a fan of the real Christmas tree and want to keep the tradition alive, there are some things you can do. Time listed a few tips for the Christmas tree connoisseur, such as hosing down your tree and letting it dry outside your house for a day, using an air purifier in the same room as the tree and tossing the tree right after Christmas day.

Read more at GlobalPost: Christmas, Inc: American trees take over Mexico