Cursed Spring: When Allergies Become Your Worst Enemy While Driving a Car

Morning, September 23, spring begins a season of the year enjoyed by many, but also feared by allergy sufferers. And the arrival of sunny days leads to the proliferation of pollen, the main cause of seasonal allergies.

During pollination, a single plant produces thousands of pollen grains, invisible to the naked eye, but present in the environment, causing discomfort for thousands of citizens. It is estimated that approximately 25% of the Chilean population suffers from respiratory allergies a figure consistent with the overall estimate.

For an allergic person, the real torment begins in spring. Eye irritation, nasal congestion, watery eyes, itchy throat, sneezing, breathing problems… all the symptoms indicating that you have a spring allergy and which negatively influence driving.

Driving with an allergy means that at some point during driving there will be a reduction in attention to the road, especially at the height of the illness. According to National Road Safety Commission (Conaset), stop paying attention to the road for 5 seconds at 50 km/h, maximum speed in town, means blindly advance 70 meters . On the highway, At 100 km/h, this represents 140 meters that a vehicle travels without paying attention to the environment.

People with allergies are generally advised to avoid using the vehicle when this occurs, but we all know that we cannot always decide whether to drive or not. We therefore give you some recommendations to better deal with allergies while driving.

• If you suffer from a respiratory allergy, it is not recommended to drive with the windows open. : To combat the heat, it is best to turn on the air conditioning or an air conditioning system, as this will allow you to breathe cleaner air.
• Clean any corner of the car well : that there is no dust in the ventilation openings. Clean the windows, dashboard, door trims, seat covers, floor mats and roof frequently.
• It is recommended to use specific products offered in specialized automobile stores and a vacuum cleaner with water filter to make the cabin atmosphere healthier. A clean cabin is essential to reduce the effects of allergies.

• If you are traveling with dogs and cats in the vehicle Keep in mind that their fur is usually quite allergenic, so it is recommended to clean the car immediately after transport.
• Use HEPA filters to better filter the air : They are able to neutralize allergens much better. Depending on the pollen volume, the weather and how much you use the vehicle, you will need to replace it every six or twelve months.
• Pollen concentration is not the same throughout the day . The most sensitive times coincide with sunrise and sunset, so it is recommended to avoid driving a vehicle at sunrise or sunset.
• Approved sunglasses will be great allies for drivers with allergies, since their eyes are much more sensitive to light and will reduce tearing. If they have side protections, that’s much better.
• Know the side effects of medications. Antihistamines work to almost eliminate allergy symptoms for a few hours. However, these compounds do not adapt very well to driving, as one of their most classic side effects is that they cause drowsiness which, depending on the patient, can be quite intense. It is prohibited to drive under the influence of drugs causing lethargy and, although there are already cutting-edge antihistamines that have minimized the problem of drowsiness, it is still recommended to carefully read the instructions, where the contraindications will appear. directions.
• Do not drive if the treatment affects you . Not everyone reacts the same to medications and you may feel drowsier than usual or your reactions may be slower. At the slightest symptom, it is better not to take risks and stop driving. Go to the specialist to tell him about these effects. In any case, it must be borne in mind that the sedative effects of the treatment decrease as the body adapts. It is therefore advisable to delay long trips at the start of treatment.