Do you suffer from seasonal allergies? These nine products will make your life easier

Suffering from seasonal allergies is like having a bad cold that lasts for months. It is an exaggerated response of our immune system against an external agent (allergen) that often circulates in the air, such as dust, pollen or animal dander. For most people, they are harmless, except for allergy sufferers.

Cerca del 20 al 30% de los chilenos sufre de alergias de type respiratoria (rinitis/rinoconjuntivitis alérgica o asma), una cifra que ha ido creciendo con el cambio climático, la contamination ambiental oa los mismos alérgenos, cuya circulation va rotando según la region in question.

For these people, walking down the street is a real ordeal. Pollination of trees lasts until October, but is then followed by that of grasses, from October to December, and finally by that of weeds, which continues until February.

Among the symptoms that can be expressed by an allergy are transparent runny nose, itchy nose, eyes, ears and palates, repeated sneezing and stuffy nose. For this reason, an early consultation is necessary, in particular to identify the reason for your allergy and thus prevent it.

The following list brings together a few products that anyone with allergies should have on hand this season. Some items are more accessible than others, but they can all make a difference amidst this veritable onslaught of allergenic weapons this season.

Even if we don’t see them, dust or pollen particles are everywhere. That is why it is very important to renew and wash the pillowcases every four days, especially on these windy days when allergens can jump on our clothes or our beds and thus generate reactions.

“If you are allergic – especially to pollen – a good tip during pollination season is to take a shower when you get home, because you can end up with a lot of pollen on your body and then it causes problems at night” , Pablo Raby suggested. , immunologist at the Santa María Clinic and member of the Board of Directors of the Chilean Society of Allergy and Immunology in a past interview. Regarding the covers, the idea is to look for those that are hypoallergenic, in cotton or silk, with strong seams. We must not forget that our body is in contact with the sheets between seven and eight hours a day.

You could say that sunglasses are the shield of the eyes against pollen. Therefore, investing in beautiful glasses, which also protect against UV rays, would be a half-objective in favor of your well-being.

For those who exercise, for example, pollen, plus sun and mosquitoes at a certain time, mixed with sweat and sunscreen, can make exercise unpleasant at any moment. What’s worse is that if they fail, an allergic reaction may set in or cause an accident.

“A good pair of sunglasses is essential to protect you from the sun, the wind and the twigs if you run uphill; or sand, if you run on the beach or in desert areas,” he commented. Francisca Gonzalez , ultra runner, in our article on sports sunglasses. His recommendations are Goodr’s Flamingo —which can also be used on a daily basis—, and for higher demand, Sungod’s Ultras collection.

For an allergic person, a clean house is vital to be able to breathe in peace. For that, you need a good vacuum cleaner and thus get rid of this unpleasant guest – and which does not stop arriving – which is dust.

If you are looking for an option that cleans intensely, in this article we explain why the cordless stick vacuum cleaner is a better option than the robot. The model we liked the most was the Roidmi S1E, What’s wrong with that 100 watt powerful suction, and it works efficiently and quietly. It is also versatile, as it allows you to easily change accessories and thus become a practical handheld vacuum cleaner. It is ideal for different types of cleaning, different surfaces and all types of floors, from laminate, wood and vinyl to ceramic and carpet.

If you don’t have much time to clean yourself, one of the best options among robot vacuum cleaners — according to our ranking of the best rated models on the market — is the Eufy Robovac 15T, an alternative with an excellent quality ratio /price ratio. Although it does not have connectivity via an app, it cleans very efficiently and with little noise.

For many, the allergic reaction is triggered at night. Either by the air particles, or also by the bedding, which when made of very synthetic or not very soft materials, can irritate the skin, in addition to accumulating dust and also hindering the entrance to the kingdom. dreams.

Cotton, being a breathable fiber, helps regulate temperature, it therefore allows you to sleep better, both in winter and in summer. It is free from potentially irritating chemicals and, being natural, prevents the absorption of various environmental allergens, such as dust mites, dust, molds and fungi.

Another natural alternative that is gaining strength are bamboo leaves, a fiber obtained thanks to this emblematic Asian plant. They are soft, absorbent yarns with antibacterial and antifungal properties that help repel germs and bacteria. They are recommended for sensitive skin and allergy sufferers, as they do not cause irritation.

Unglamorous but life-saving. Every house of an allergic person should have this accessory, necessary to be able to clean the floors in the best possible way. Mops, which must be moistened with a cleaning product diluted in water, are responsible for capturing these agents of dust and dirt from the floor, and thus keeping your home really clean.

“Air purifiers can be an important part of avoiding allergens, but they are not a panacea,” said immunologist and allergist Manav Singla. in an article by Washington Post . But if you’re on a budget, “they work great for cleaning dust, dust mites, pollen and other contaminants, so they work for people with allergies,” said Cecilia Vizcaya, pediatric infectious disease specialist at UC-Christus Health Network. in an old article about these gadgets.

How to know if the purifier is good? At least it must have a HEPA filter, English High efficiency particulate air (high filtration efficiency), and complies with European standard UNE 18-22, since it ensures the capture of 99.97% of particles larger than 0.3 microns.

It has already been more than two and a half years since the mask appeared in our lives. It has been present during all the pandemic days, and although it is already on the decline, for some allergy sufferers it can be useful. For example, if you find yourself in a grove of oriental bananas, the triple mask —like the KN95—, plus good sunglasses, can avoid a lot of bad reactions.

“Wearing it may be helpful in patients allergic to seasonal pollens, such as shade banana and primarily grasses,” explained Teresa Peralta, immunologist at the UC CHRISTUS Health Network Allergy Center, in a previous article on how to survive seasonal allergies. Therefore, and despite the fact that you no longer want to know anything about them, the recommendation is not to get rid of the masks yet.

Seasonal allergy is usually synonymous with an unexpected river of mucus. For this, it is useful to always have disposable tissues at hand. And if it’s not for you, surely someone with allergies close to you will be eternally grateful when you help them.

*Prices for products in this item are updated as of October 12, 2022. Values ​​and availability may change