Shopper with severe allergies collapses from near-fatal asthma attack caused by ‘Christmas spices’ in shop
54-year-old Anne Murray is allergic to a number of spices - including Christmas classics cinnamon and orange
A WOMAN who is allergic to the SMELL of Christmas has told how ten minutes in a garden centre almost killed her.
54-year-old Anne Murray, who is allergic to a number of different spices, was shopping in Peterborough on November 5 when she began to feel an itch in her throat.
At first, she didn't notice the "distinct" Christmas smell, but soon became aware of the smell of mince pies and pine cones.
She then immediately left, using her inhaler to open her airways - and just two days later, was rushed to hospital after suffering a severe asthma attack.
Aerospace engineer Anne, whose mother died from an asthma attack aged just 35 in 1974, said: “I thought I was going to die.
“With an asthma attack, you are gasping for air and although it’s all around you, you can’t get it.
“When I collapsed after the garden centre, I told myself I’d had a good innings. I thought about my mum."
After leaving the garden centre, Anne, who lives alone, used her nebuliser over the weekend - a device which helps her to breathe by giving medicine as a mist.
But when she went to her GP on Monday morning, she was barely able to stand - and realised her asthma was "out of control".
Anne was given oxygen in the ambulance and rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, where she was given more oxygen and stronger nebulisers.
At the end of the day, once stabilised, she was sent home with seven days worth of steroids.
Having just returned to work after a month of recovery, Anne is now looking forward to spending Christmas with her dad, Archie Murray, 79 and step-mum, Alice Murray, in Scotland.
Anne jokes: “Friends and family joke about me being a diva as I make them keep the spiced candles away when I’m visiting.
“I usually avoid cinnamon or oranges by walking the other way if I see them and I have to read labels carefully before buying cleaning or beauty products, just in case.
“People don’t realise how severe asthma can be, so it’s good to raise awareness.”
Asthma affects about 18 per cent of the population - and scientists are currently working on the world's first asthma pill to try and treat the condition.
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