Air Purifiers for Asthma: Do They Really Help?
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes recurring episodes of wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. In the last decade, asthma has become the most common chronic illness in children. The main culprits to blame for this trend are pollutants, allergens, and irritants that are released into the air.
Air pollution is the most common trigger for asthma attacks. If you or someone you love has asthma, you know how important it is to keep your home clean. The pollutants in your environment can make asthma worse — and could even trigger an attack. Because the air inside your home is often more polluted than the air outside, an air purifier can help reduce asthma symptoms.
What Is an Air Purifier?
An air purifier is a device that removes particulate matter and gaseous pollutants from the surrounding air. Air purifiers use a variety of methods to remove impurities, including physical, chemical, and electronic means. There are two main types of air purifiers: particulate arrestors, which remove solid or liquid particles from the air; and gas or vapor treatment units, which remove odors, gaseous pollutants, or certain chemicals. It is mostly used to remove dust, pollen, smoke, and other pollutants from the air and may be used in conjunction with an air conditioner in order to create a healthier atmosphere.
Do Air Purifiers Help with Asthma?
If you have asthma, air purifiers are a great way to help you keep your symptoms under control. Air purifiers can help you breathe easier by removing allergens, irritants, and pollutants from the air in your home. Pollutants such as dust and pet dander can cause asthma symptoms, but an air purifier will remove them from the air so you can breathe easier. However, keep in mind that if you have allergies, it’s important to get air purifiers with HEPA filters. These are the most popular and definitely contribute to a cleaner environment in your home.
How to Choose the Right Filter?
Whether you have severe allergies or you just want to control the amount of dust and pollen in your home, it’s important to choose the right air purifier filter. There are three types of air purifier filters: HEPA, electrostatic, and carbon. While most air purifier filters remove dust, pollen, and odors from the air, depending on the filter you choose, it can also remove gaseous pollutants such as formaldehyde, ammonia, and benzene. HEPA filters are the most effective because they capture 99.97% of airborne particles, down to 0.3 microns in size. Carbon filters absorb odors and gases and can be used to remove toxins from the air. A UV air purifier uses ultraviolet light to kill bacteria.