Wildfire smoke and poor air quality can cause body discomfort—here's how to ease symptoms
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The Canadian wildfires are back with a vengeance as parts of the Midwest experience extremely poor air quality. On Tuesday morning, Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis were among the cities with the worst air quality in the world. Over 100 million Americans are affected by this new bout of poor air quality, including those in New York, who suffered from poor air quality earlier this month. In fact, New York’s air quality was the fourth-worst in the world as of Tuesday morning.
Many in affected areas are urged to limit outdoor activities, but this can be easier said than done. Whether you expect to experience symptoms at some point during wildfire season or you’re suffering from them right now, we’re here to walk you through products that will help you to get relief when smoke or smog is in your area.
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Wildfire smoke symptoms
Symptoms of breathing in too much wildfire smoke can include coughing, trouble breathing, wheezing, chest pain, headaches, asthma attacks, tiredness, rapid heartbeat, a runny nose, irritated sinuses, stinging eyes and a scratchy throat. If your symptoms are severe or worsening, contact your medical provider.
Smoke-protection products
A mask
A mask can help to keep you from getting wildfire symptoms. However, you'll want a quality N95 or KN95 mask to prevent the particles from reaching your nose or mouth.
An air purifier
A quality air purifier will be able to clear wildfire smoke from your home's air. The best air purifier we've tested is the BLUEAIR DustMagnet 5410i which features exceptional particle removal, quiet operation and integration with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
A fan
A properly oriented fan can blow smog-filled air out of your house towards the outdoors where it belongs. The best fan we tested is the Vornado 660, which has great air speed and volume, meaning that it will work effectively even over a long distance.
A water bottle
Water can help soothe an irritated throat and flush your system so that you can quickly recover from any symptoms. If you're looking for a new water bottle, the best you can buy is the Brita BB11 Premium Filtering Water Bottle. This water bottle filters out odors and tastes and keeps water cool for 24 hours.
An eye massager
If wildfire smoke is giving you dry eyes and a migraine, you should treat yourself to an eye massage. The Renpho Eye massager applies pleasurable heat and pressure to your eyes and can even play music to help you relax as you drift off to sleep. Better yet, you can get this all-in-one device for under $100.
An ice pack
An ice pack may bring you relief from a migraine as well. NatraCure's gel pack is the highest-rated ice pack on Amazon, with over 33,800 five-star reviews. Buyers love this pack because of its weight, flexibility and how long it stays cold.
Eye protection
Safety goggles can protect your eyes from the irritation that smog brings. One of the best-rated on Amazon is the pair sold by SolidWork thanks to the protection they bring and their comfortable fit over glasses. For more stylish protection, you can opt for sunglasses, such as ones sold by NoCry, which buyers enjoy for their durability and light weight.
Eye drops
Suffering from dry eyes? With a few eyedrops, your eyes will feel good as new. Systane has the best-rated lubricating eyedrops on Amazon, with over 20,500 five-star reviews. Many buyers attest to these drops' effectiveness in alleviating dry eyes.
Cough drops
If you've got a cough or an irritated throat in general, cough drops will provide relief in a pinch. Halls is a trusted brand of cough drops and this is shown in its Amazon reviews—the most popular product from the brand found on Amazon has over 12,800 five-star ratings. Many reviewers state that the drops help soothe their throats and minimize coughs.
Nasal spray
Nasal spray is a great way to clear one’s sinuses. If you're looking for some, check out Vicks' severe decongestant nasal spray. This two-pack has over 10,470 five-star ratings and reviewers remark how effective it is, especially compared to water-based nasal sprays.
Tissues
For a runny nose or sneeze, you’re going to want to grab a box of tissues. Out of the one’s we tested, is Puffs Ultra Soft. This tissue is ultra soft, while still being durable.
A tea kettle
Whether you have a scratchy or phlegmy throat, a steaming mug of tea should soothe your symptoms in no time. To brew your elixir of choice, we recommend using a no-fuss, electric kettle like our favorite, the Cuisinart PerfecTemp 1.7 Liter Electric Kettle. This kettle is convenient to use thanks to its intuitive controls, fast boiling times and temperature presets.
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This article originally appeared on Reviewed: Canada wildfire 2023: reduce symptoms from smoke, poor air quality
