Are Air Purifiers Effective for Allergies?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes indoor air pollution as one of the top five environmental health risks. For people with allergies, scientific studies have shown that air filtration can reduce airborne allergens and provide some relief. Allergens are substances that can cause symptoms in people with allergies, asthma, or respiratory conditions. According to the American Asthma and Allergy Foundation, 8 out of 10 people in the United States are exposed to dust mites and 6 out of 10 are exposed to dog or cat dander.

One study cited several reports that HEPA air purifiers can benefit people with various allergies by reducing the concentration of indoor allergens, including pollen, house dust mite (HDM) allergens, and dog dander. Research shows that mold can be especially harmful to people with asthma and other lung conditions, especially children. Mold is a fungal growth that forms and spreads on various types of damp surfaces. Its presence indicates a problem with excess moisture.

The EPA states that portable HEPA air purifiers have been shown to benefit allergy and asthma symptoms, as well as cardiovascular health. However, the amount of the benefit may be small, and the benefits may not be due solely to air filters. If you have any underlying health problems, such as asthma and allergies, talk to your doctor about ways you can improve indoor air quality to control symptoms. Never stop taking any medication without first talking to your doctor.

You can also look for air purifiers and filters that are certified as suitable devices for asthma and allergies by the American Asthma and Allergy Foundation. An allergist may also have specific recommendations tailored to your needs. If you suffer from allergies, you're probably looking for simple ways to reduce those annoying symptoms. While we know that air purifiers can reduce the amount of pollution in the air, can they help reduce allergy symptoms? Some studies suggest that yes. However, there is more than one way to keep the air in the house clean.

Learn how to alleviate allergy symptoms with the help of an air purifier and other ways to improve indoor air quality. While more research is needed, some studies have shown that placing an air filter in the home can reduce indoor air pollution and alleviate allergy symptoms to some extent. However, the type of air purifier you use is important, as some air purifiers have been shown to aggravate allergies rather than alleviate them. Ionic electrostatic room cleaners are not recommended for allergy sufferers, as they produce irritating ozone from the ions they release.

Cheap fiberglass oven filters can also be harmful, especially if you forget to change the filter frequently. Also, be wary of air purifiers that claim to relieve allergy. There is no scientific evidence that air purifiers that use UV rays or UV light are useful for reducing allergies, although they are sometimes marketed as such. Air purifiers are particularly useful for people with animal and pet allergies.

According to the EPA, animal dander and cat saliva are some of the most common household irritants in the air. You can reduce the amount of pet dander in the air by placing an air purifier equipped with a HEPA filter somewhere in your space. They are also effective against dust, pollen, and other airborne contaminants larger than 0.3 µm. If you're only going to use it in one place, choose an air purifier with a clean air supply rate (CADR) that matches the intended room size. If your home uses a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, you can help the filtration system work throughout the house by installing a better air filter.

Permanent and disposable air filters are available. Air purifiers can help with seasonal allergies but may not be the most effective method. Air purifiers only filter air in a very small space inside the house, limiting their benefits, says Dr. Apart from the immediate space or room where they are located, they will not affect small particles distributed on other levels or rooms. While filters can't completely eliminate common allergy triggers such as dust, dirt, pollen, and pet dander; the best air purifiers will help improve overall air quality in your home and hopefully help reduce some of the most unpleasant allergy symptoms and help you breathe a little better. They use fans to suck air through one or more filters; trap various contaminants; then circulate cleanest air back into the room. In the 1980s Ted Myatt founded Alpine Industries; a company that sold a popular line of purifiers that used ozone to clean the air.

When I asked Ted Myatt; an environmental microbiologist who works at University of Rhode Island and is a Honeywell consultant; if I would feel healthier after using a home air purifier for an extended period, he hid it from me. There are mixed opinions as to whether air purifiers are a reliable solution to help prevent seasonal allergies. Before investing in an air purifier; you may want to invest in a home air quality test to determine what contaminants you have in your home. However; what sets it apart from other air purifiers is its use of UV-C light for additional power to eliminate germs (which helps clean system internally; as an added bonus). That said; several studies show that air purifiers hold promise in a layered allergy and asthma mitigation strategy. Air purifiers can help clean your home's air of unwanted particles such as pet dander; allergens; and smoke. Because manufacturers cannot definitely prove health benefits of devices; industry tends to become obsessed with technology; as if cold mechanics were an end in itself. And; in any case; most manufacturers say it takes four to six weeks to start seeing benefits of an air purifier. In addition to portable air purifier; there are also ways to install air...