I Have a Severe Pollen Allergy and This Air Purifier Helps Me Breathe Easy

Image Source: PS Photography / Jessica AndrewsFor most people, allergy season means a few extra boxes of tissue and several trips to the car wash. For me, it's two months of pure agony, and I'm only being slightly dramatic here. As someone who suffers from a tree pollen allergy along with asthma, it's hard to get through pollen season without a trip to the emergency room - let alone a steady stream of antihistamines and corticosteroids. I'm on a constant journey to make allergy season easier to manage, and the first step in my process is controlling my environment. For years, I didn't pay much attention to air purifiers because I felt they weren't strong enough to help someone who is extra sensitive to pollen. The Coway Airmega 400 True HEPA Air Purifier with Smart Technology ($469) thankfully proved me wrong. I live in a townhouse surrounded by trees, and my bedroom has a door that faces the forest (an asset every time of year except during allergy season). I set this air purifier up in that room since the air quality was so poor - and I was amazed by how clean the air was after just one night of use. The air purifier claims to capture 99.999 percent of nano-sized particles down to 0.01 microns (most bacteria, mold, and allergens included) and I can say it's actually made a difference for me during allergy season and beyond. My breathing isn't as labored and I feel less congested. It's also pretty convenient to operate: I can change the settings manually based on air quality or leave it in Auto mode to do the work for me.Overall, in terms of function and ease, this air purifier actually impressed me. Most importantly, it helped alleviate my symptoms during allergy season in a way I didn't think was possible. Keep reading for a review of the Coway Airmega 400 True HEPA Air Purifier with Smart Technology.Image Source: PS Photography / Jessica AndrewsWhat I Like About the Coway Airmega 400 Air PurifierFull disclosure: I have quite a few air purifiers (one in each of the five rooms in my place) and this is by far the most powerful and effective. Together, the 3-stage filtration system - including the combined Max2 filter (a Green True HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter) and the pre-filter - reduce 99.999 percent of 0.01-micron particles in the air, making pollen season actually bearable for me.I also take full advantage of the purifier's smart technology. It features three useful modes: Auto Mode, where the fan changes speed as needed without having to be manually adjusted; Eco Mode, when the fan turns off to conserve energy but starts back up if air quality worsens; and Sleep Mode, when the fan rotates slowly once the room is dark and the air's clean. What's more, the air purifier is stylish and chic with a white cover and wooden legs that complement the modern decor in my bedroom (it's also available in black). It's fairly quiet, only creating white noise when it's on the medium or high setting.What's Worth Noting About the Coway Airmega 400 Air PurifierThe Coway Airmega 400 purifier is designed for large areas (up to 3,120 sq ft) so if you have a smaller space, you can opt for the Airmega 100 ($130) for up to 810 sq ft of coverage.Though the noise from the air purifier isn't a bother to me, it does create a sound when placed on higher settings, so if you want a device that's totally silent, either keep the Coway Airmega 400 on low mode or explore other options. Who Is the Coway Airmega 400 Air Purifier Best For?The Coway Airmega 400 air purifier is a splurge, but it's worth the investment for clean air, especially if you're battling an illness like I am, or perhaps you live in an area with high air pollution levels or have a home with pets or mold concerns. Where Is the Coway Airmega 400 Air Purifier Available?The air purifier is available to shop on Amazon, Walmart, and on Coway.com.Additional Details:You can set the timer to automatically turn off after one, four, or eight hours to save energy. The Max2 filter has a life span of about 12 months.There's a replacement indicator that lights up when it's time to change your filters.It ships in an easy-to-move box with simple and fast assembly. Dimensions: 14.8" width x 14.8" height x 22.8" depthRating: Related: The 13 Best Air Purifiers on Amazon - Starting at Just $40 Jessica C. Andrews (she/her) is the senior content director of shopping and UK at PS. With more than 15 years of experience, her areas of expertise include fashion, shopping, and travel. Prior to joining PS, Jessica held senior roles at Teen Vogue, Refinery29, and Bustle, and contributed to The New York Times, Elle, Vanity Fair, and Essence. She's appeared on "Good Morning America," NBC, and Fox 5 New York, and spoken on various panels about fashion, hair, and Black culture.

For most people, means a few extra boxes of tissue and several trips to the car wash. For me, it's two months of pure agony, and I'm only being slightly dramatic here. As someone who suffers from a tree along with , it's hard to get through pollen season without a trip to the emergency room — let alone a steady stream of antihistamines and corticosteroids.

I'm on a constant journey to make allergy season easier to manage, and the first step in my process is controlling my environment. For years, I didn't pay much attention to because I felt they weren't strong enough to help someone who is extra sensitive to pollen. The ($469) thankfully proved me wrong.

I live in a townhouse surrounded by trees, and my bedroom has a door that faces the forest (an asset every time of year except during allergy season). I set this air purifier up in that room since the air quality was so poor — and I was amazed by how clean the air was after just one night of use. The air purifier claims to capture 99.

999 percent of nano-sized particles down to 0.01 microns (most bacteria, mold, and allergens included) and I can say it's actually made a difference for me during and beyond. My breathing isn't as labored and I .

It's also pretty convenient to operate: I can change the settings manually based on air quality or leave it in Auto mode to do the work for me. Overall, in terms of function and ease, this air purifier actually impressed me. Most importantly, it helped alleviate my symptoms during al.