Do Air Purifiers Work for Allergies?

Allergies, allergies. They are the bane of your existence, the tickling in your throat, the scream in your eyes. For millions of allergy sufferers, there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel, and the tears in your eyes seem to run like a broken faucet. Since allergies are triggered by airborne particles, it is important to identify which allergen is causing you grief so that you can effectively combat the nuisance and reclaim your life.

Indoor Allergens

So what exactly are allergies? Allergies are abnormal responses by your immune system. Harmless substances that shouldn’t create any problems for us, react negatively with our immune systems causing unwanted symptoms, such as itchy eyes, sneezing, itchy throat, hives, and fatigue. These allergens are introduced to the body via inhalation, ingestion, or physical contact.

Sadly, most allergens are ordinary particulates found in most homes. Some common indoor allergens are:

• Mold and mildew
• Hair and dander from pets
• Tobacco smoke
• Insect infestation - especially cockroaches and dust mites
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emitted by synthetic carpets, fresh paint, plastic and glues

How Will an Air Purifier Help My Allergies?

An air purifier that uses a true HEPA filter, such as our Asthma and Allergy Friendly MinusA2 air purifier, will trap unwanted dust, mold spores, airborne bacteria and chemicals. Since some allergens can also come from outdoors, such as pollen and weeds, anything that you bring in from outdoors can easily become airborne and trapped in the air purifier filters. For extra defense against your troublesome allergens, you can choose a customized filter with your MinusA2 to pack a 1-2 punch.

It is important to remember, though, that an air purifier does not combat symptoms in the same way that medication does. Allergy medications, such as anti-histamines, block the immune system from releasing histamines after an allergen has triggered symptoms, so medication can be a very important part of keeping symptoms at bay, especially if you are planning on venturing outdoors.

My Hero, the Air Purifier Air Purifiers should be considered the first line of defense against indoor airborne allergens, and if operated consistently, they can trap enough allergens so that your allergy symptoms can be greatly reduced. Cleaning your home regularly to clear your floors of dust build-up, and requesting kindly that your favorite smoker stay within close distance of the air purifier when smoking, are a few things that can be done to help keep your air clean and help your air purifier do the best job that it can.

Sources:
http://www.airpurifierguide.org/health/do-air-purifiers-help-with-allergies
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/allergy-basics