We’re going to talk about air purifier benefits for allergies in this article. So if you’re wondering about air purifier benefits and side effects let’s dive in.
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The other day we had a pretty big storm, lots of wind and all. All the fresh pollen knocked around gave my husband a really hard time – sneezing, terribly runny nose, even affected his vision. I might not be able to do much about big storms like this, but we at least can help mitigate these effects by purifying the air in our home.
We have pets – of both the dog and a cat variety. The fur and dander are significant. Add to that the year-round seasonal allergens of trees and flowers thanks to living in a green and flourishing land, and that creates a good environment for allergies.
Importance of Indoor Air Quality
Since we spend so much time indoors (especially during the pandemic), having good indoor air quality is necessary. According to the EPA, indoor concentrations of some pollutants are up to 5 times higher than outdoor concentrations. Adverse effects of indoor air pollutants cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches and fatigue, and more. Many indoor air pollutants (i.e. dust mites, pet dander, mold, etc.) can trigger an asthma attack. (Source)
So to provide relief from some of those effects, we have started using an air purifier.
Benefits of an Air Purifier
Air purifiers use a filter or combination of filters to capture and clean particles in the air. Air purifiers with a HEPA filter assist with cleaning and purifying air that is circulated. Circulated air helps trap more pollutants. The clean air is then pushed back into the living space.
Removes Triggers of Asthma Attacks
According to the CDC, 1 in 12 people has asthma – which means they have inflamed bronchial tubes. Indoor air pollutants irritate their airways causing difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing. (Source)
Reducing pollutants such as pet dander, pollen, or dust mites helps reduce asthma attacks from these irritants. Vacuuming often and running the air purifier helps reduce these indoor air pollutants.
Eliminate Allergens
Inhaling allergens such as dust, pollen, and pet dander, causes a reaction in our body. The body produces the allergen antibody IgE, causing the allergic response we recognize in our nose, lungs, throat, and/or on our skin. What we have allergic reactions to depends on the type of IgE antibodies we have in our system. Air purifiers that remove these allergens help provide relief from these responses.
Neutralizes Odors
Chemicals called Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are commonly found in paints, aerosol sprays and air fresheners, and upholstered furniture. The odors can cause nausea and breathlessness. Air purifiers that filter out VOCs help us breathe better without these nuisances.
Reduce Carbon Dioxide Levels
We breathe out carbon dioxide during our normal breathing process, but in a confined room without good circulation, it can build up. Consuming too much carbon dioxide can cause shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, and even affect cognition. HEPA filters help reduce carbon dioxide in the air we breathe in our homes.
Traps Tobacco and Cigarette Smoke
Cigarette smoke can cause the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart disease (Source). Secondhand smoke is dangerous to all – even brief exposure can be harmful to health. Secondhand smoke is especially dangerous to children whose lungs are still developing. It can cause ear infections, asthma, respiratory symptoms and infections, and a higher risk of SIDS. Adults are at risk for heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke, even for non-smokers. (Source)
If you live with a smoker, and they refuse to quit, an air purifier with a HEPA filter and activated carbon can help trap the smoke in the air.
Avoid Airborne Respiratory Illnesses
Children and babies, the elderly, and the chronically ill are the most affected by indoor air pollutants. When one family member catches a cold or flu, everyone is breathing the same air infected with bacteria and viruses, and other people in the household get sick. Air purifiers reduce the number of hazardous elements in the air, decreasing the pollutants inhaled. HEPA filters capture these bacteria and viruses, removing the cause of airborne diseases and keeping family members healthy.
Help You Sleep Better
Breathing cleaner air helps you sleep better at night because you’re not being disturbed by the effects of indoor air pollutants. Air purifier fans have a quiet, calming hum that improves the rest that light sleepers seek.
Air Purifier Side Effects
Air purifiers that emit ozone have side-effects. Inhaling ozone can irritate the lungs can cause throat irritation, coughing, and shortness of breath. Inhaled ozone can make asthma worse. Also, ozone generators don’t filter out small particles that trigger asthma. (Source) Avoid air purifiers that emit ozone and instead focus on purifiers with HEPA technology, which do not create ozone as a byproduct.
There might be some cons to air purifier use – mainly that they cover small specific areas and one device cannot be used to filter an entire home. Air purifiers do require regular cleaning and upkeep maintenance such as replacement of filters.
Our pick: Okaysou AirMax8L
We received the Okaysou AirMax8L. It comes with a medical-grade ULTRA-DUO filtration system, capturing 99.97% of air pollutants like kitchen odors, pollen, smoke, pet dander and hair, household odors as small as 0.25 microns; also safely breaks down various harmful gases, such as formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, and VOCs. The AirMax8L circulates air up to 1.5x per hour in a room size of 800 sq. ft.
It sits quietly near a wall in our living room and the sleek design does not stand out. The Okaysou air filter is very quiet, gently doing the air circulation and filtration while we enjoy family time. I like that it has a child lock since my child is still curious about pushing everyone and everything’s buttons. You can set it to run on a timer, put to sleep overnight, and more.
This is a great device for pet owners, helping keep the fur and dander of our four-legged family members out of our lungs. Okaysou AirMax8L medical-grade air filters use the best H13 medical-grade filter materials to capture dust and allergens, pet dander and hair, smoke & VOCs, and viruses and bacteria so we have a fresh air environment.
The AirMax 8L Air Purifier has higher efficiency due to the powerful Ultra HEPA Filter and Duo Carbon Filter, which work together to purify the air. H13 HEPA Filter is a 3 in 1 filter-combination, including a Pre-Filter, an H13 HEPA filter, and a blue Antimicrobial Filter. There are two layers contained in the Carbon Filter: one is the Active Carbon Filter, another one is Cold Catalyst Filter. This air filter is 100% Ozone Free.
The device is affordably priced and ships quickly. It comes with a 5-year warranty and you can even try it for 30 days!
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