With the holiday season almost upon us, Filipinos look forward to cooler weather that signals the coming of the most wonderful time of the year. It's also a time to travel to out of town destinations and home provinces to take advantage of the long break.

As festive and cheery as the Christmas season may be, the changing of the weather usually comes with a rise in people experiencing fits of coughing, sneezing, and other flu-like symptoms. While it might be easy to brush off these signs as the effects of weather changes, recognizing and addressing their underlying causes might prove to be more beneficial for our health in the long run.

Local studies have shown that heavy concentrations of pollen in the air can be observed from November to May. Pollen is one of the most common triggers for allergic rhinitis. Also known as hay fever or seasonal allergies, allergic rhinitis causes sneezing, nasal congestion, watery eyes, and coughing.

In the Philippines, the overall prevalence of allergic rhinitis among Filipino adults stands at 20%. However, this condition can affect people of all ages. Beyond the aforementioned symptoms, people with allergic rhinitis often complain of fatigue, irritability, and the inability to concentrate.

While allergic rhinitis can be treated with medication such as antihistamines and over-the-counter decongestants, many medical professionals recommend taking pre-emptive steps to find and avoid the triggers that cause allergic rhinitis. 

The use of face masks can help reduce outdoor exposure to pollen, but when happens when pollen and other allergens find their way into your home? Indoor allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, and mold spores can trigger allergic rhinitis as well.

Research shows and experts agree that the use of air purifiers can reduce levels of airborne allergens and fine dust particles in homes. Studies also show promise for improving outcomes in children and adults with allergic rhinitis and asthma.

By ensuring good air quality at home, people can combat allergic rhinitis and other threats to our health compounded by poor air quality.

Said Professor Wojciech Feleszko, Associate Professor of Paediatric Pneumonology and Allergy at the Medical University of Warsaw, “Air purifiers can improve indoor air quality and can supplement asthma treatment to help allergy and asthma patients keep their symptoms under control”

With all the holiday parties and family reunions going all this Christmas season, the need to create a healthy home environment is more important than ever before. To share the gift of clean air, Philips Air Purifiers are equipped with NanoProtect High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters that can remove 99.97% of particles as small as 0.003um from the air. 

Users can also get the most out of their connected Philips air purifiers with the Philips Air+ App which provides air quality data, monitors filter lifespan, and automatically adjusts your device’s performance to give users better control of the air they breathe at home

If the prospect of allergic rhinitis is enough to turn happy holidays into restless ones, here are some Philips air purifiers to help keep your home and the living spaces of your loved ones free from those seasonal allergies.

Suggested Retail Price: Php 12,999.00

Suitable for rooms up to 49m2

The Philips Air Purifier Series 800 is a small yet effective device that can bring clean air to the home in a compact and simple way. Designed for quiet use, the device has a sleep mode where displays lights are dimmed and the purifier operates in near silence to clean air while one sleeps. 

The air purifier is suitable for use in rooms as big as 49m2. Thanks to its energy efficient design, the Series 800 runs at a maximum of 20W power, which is equivalent to one standard light bulb.

Suggested Retail Price: Php 30,999.00

Suitable for rooms up to 98m2

The Philips Air Purifier Series 2000i provides powerful and effective purification thanks to a CADR of 380m³/h. With just one push of a button, it filters invisible viruses, allergens, and pollutants. A 360˚ airflow intake distributes clean air to every corner of a room, while a 3-layer filtration system with NanoProtect HEPA captures 99.97% of ultra-fine particles as small as 0.003 microns.

The Philips Air Purifier range is available for purchase on Lazada, leading electronics stores, major department stores, hypermarkets, and selected authorized dealers.

The Philips Air+ App is available for download from the App Store and Google Play.

For more information on Philips Air Purifiers, please visit https://www.philips.com.ph/c-m-ho/air-purifier-and-air-humidifier#.

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