Do you constantly sneeze, cough, or have trouble breathing in your own house? If so, you’re not alone.
Millions of people around the world have allergies, which can be especially frustrating when they get in the way of their daily lives.
A solution, called an air purifier, can help relieve your symptoms and improve your health as a whole.
In this article, I’ll talk about the benefits of using an air purifier to fight allergies and why everyone who wants to breathe easier and live more comfortably should have one.
So, whether you already have an air purifier or are thinking about buying one for the first time, keep reading to learn how this powerful tool can change your home and your health.
Understanding Allergies and their Symptoms
Understanding Allergies and Their Causes
Allergies happen when the immune system overreacts to something it thinks is dangerous but isn’t.
These things are called allergens, and they can get into the body through the lungs, stomach, or skin.
Pollen, pet dander, dust, mold, food, medicine, latex, and insect bites and stings are all common allergens.
When an allergen is found, the immune system makes a certain type of antibody called immunoglobulin E.
(IgE).
Each IgE antibody can be very specific and only react to certain allergens.
Symptoms of Allergies
Symptoms of an allergy depend on what caused it and can affect the airways, sinuses, nasal passages, skin, and stomach.
When you have an allergic reaction, you might swell up, throw up, have trouble breathing, feel itchy, get hives, or have other symptoms.
People with severe allergies are more likely to get anaphylaxis, which can be caused by foods, medicines, or insect stings.
The 10 Most Common Allergens
The 10 most common allergens are foods, animals, pollen, mold, dust mites, medications, latex, insect stings, cockroaches, and perfumes and other household chemicals.
Food allergies are common, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has named nine foods as the most common allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and sesame.
These foods are often found in other foods, so you have to read labels carefully and take other steps to stay away from them.
Diagnosing and Treating Allergies
An allergist can tell if someone has allergies by doing a number of tests based on the person’s medical history, the things they’ve been exposed to, and their current health.
Antihistamines, decongestants, nasal steroids, asthma medicines, and immunotherapy are all ways to treat allergies.
High-efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA) can also help get rid of allergens that are floating in the air.
Living with allergies can be hard, but with the right care, you can control your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Allergies can cause many different symptoms, such as sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes, a rash, hives, and swelling.
In the worst cases, allergies can lead to anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening allergic reaction that needs medical help right away.
It is important to know what causes allergies and to see an allergist for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Allergies can be controlled and the quality of life can get better with the right care.
Common Allergens and Air Purifiers
Allergies are the body’s response to normally harmless substances, and the symptoms can be as mild as a rash or as severe as anaphylaxis, which can kill you.
Sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, itching or tingling in the mouth, hives, rashes, and swelling are all common signs of allergies.
In the worst cases, allergies can cause anaphylaxis, a dangerous reaction that can make it hard to breathe, make your heart beat fast, and make you lose consciousness.
Treatment Options
Antihistamines, decongestants, nasal steroids, asthma medicines, and immunotherapy are some of the ways to treat allergies.
Antihistamines block the effects of histamine in the body, which can relieve allergy symptoms like itchy, watery eyes and a runny or stuffy nose.
Decongestants can help get rid of stuffy noses, and nasal steroids can help reduce inflammation in the nose.
Medications for asthma can help control asthma symptoms that are brought on by allergies.
Immunotherapy involves slowly exposing the body to small amounts of an allergen to build up tolerance and reduce or get rid of symptoms.
Lifestyle Changes
In addition to taking medicine, changing how you live can help you deal with allergies.
The best way to stop allergic reactions is to stay away from allergens.
Some ways to do this are to avoid certain foods, stay inside when pollen counts are high, and use air purifiers with HEPA filters to get rid of allergens in the air.
Saline sprays and nasal washes can also help by reducing swelling and getting rid of mucus in the nose.
In severe cases, emergency epinephrine shots may be needed to ease symptoms until emergency treatment can be given.
Air Purifiers
By getting rid of allergens from the air, air purifiers can help ease allergy symptoms.
Allergens are things that can make people with allergies, asthma, or other breathing problems feel sick.
People with different kinds of allergies can benefit from air purifiers with HEPA filters because they reduce the amount of pollen, house dust mites (HDM), pet hair, and dander in the air.
HEPA filters can get rid of particles as small as 0.3 microns, so they can safely get rid of floating pet dander.
Choosing an Air Purifier
When choosing an air purifier, it’s important to think about the size of the room, the types of pollutants in the home, and the CADR rate.
The best way to relieve allergy symptoms is with a HEPA filter.
The Germ Guardian AC4825E, the BlueAir Pure 211+, the RabbitAir MinusA2 Ultra Quiet Air Purifier, and the Levoit Core 400S are some of the best air purifiers for people with allergies.
Using Air Purifiers
Antihistamines and nasal sprays can be used with air purifiers if told to do so by a doctor or allergy specialist.
But air purifiers might not work if other steps aren’t taken to make the air in the home cleaner.
As one of the three basic ways to improve the air quality in your home, the EPA suggests using an air purifier.
Choosing the Right Air Purifier for Allergies
Types of Air Purifiers
There are two main kinds of air purifiers: air filters for HVAC systems and air purifiers that work on their own.
HVAC air filters are a part of the HVAC system and help clean the air in the whole house.
Standalone air purifiers are easy to move and can be put in certain rooms to clean the air there.
Choosing the Right Air Purifier
When choosing an air purifier for allergies, it’s important to think about the size of the room, the types of allergens you want to get rid of, and the clean air delivery rate (CADR) of the purifier.
The CADR is a way to measure how much clean air a purifier can make in a certain amount of time.
The better the air purifier is at filtering the air, the higher the CADR.
The RabbitAir MinusA2 Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier, the Levoit Core 400S Smart Air Purifier, the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier, and the Coway Airmega 250 are some of the best air purifiers for allergies in 2023. Also highly rated for their ability to filter out allergens are the GermGuardian 3-in-1 Air Purifier and the EnviroKlenz Mobile UV Model. Not all air purifiers have HEPA filters, so it’s important to make sure the one you buy has a HEPA filter that can be changed easily.
Filter Replacement and Maintenance
It’s also important to think about how often filters need to be changed.
Filters need to be changed often for the air purifier to keep working well.
How often you need to replace a filter depends on what kind of filter or filtration system you have.
True HEPA filters can catch 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns or bigger, like dust, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens.
Check the MERV rating on filters that aren’t HEPA.
The higher the number, the better the filter.
Other Steps to Reduce Allergens in the Home
In addition to using an air purifier, there are other ways to reduce allergens in the home, such as using a vacuum cleaner with a small-particle or high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, wiping down surfaces with a damp cloth, and not smoking inside.
Air purifiers can help cut down on allergens in the air and improve the quality of the air inside. Consider the size of the room, the type of allergens you want to get rid of, and the clean air delivery rate (CADR) when choosing an air purifier for allergies. The RabbitAir MinusA2 Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier, the Levoit Core 400S Smart Air Purifier, the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier, and the Coway Airmega 250 are some of the best air purifiers for allergies in 2023. Remember to change the filter often to keep the air purifier working well, and take other steps to get rid of allergens in the home.
How Air Purifiers Can Help Alleviate Asthma Symptoms
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that affects millions of people worldwide.
It is characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing.
Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander are common triggers for asthma attacks.
Air purifiers can help alleviate asthma symptoms by removing these allergens from the air.
HEPA filters, in particular, are highly effective at capturing small particles that can trigger asthma attacks.
Additionally, air purifiers can help reduce indoor air pollution, which can also exacerbate asthma symptoms.
By improving indoor air quality, air purifiers can provide a safe and comfortable environment for those with asthma to breathe easier and reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
For more information:
Asthma Relief: Air Purifiers 101
Effectiveness and Risks of Air Purifiers
How Air Purifiers Work
Air purifiers clean the air in a room by filtering it and catching things like dust, pollen, and pet dander.
HEPA filters are especially good at getting rid of small particles, like many allergens.
HEPA filters can catch up to 99.97% of the particles in the air, which makes them a great way to reduce allergens in the home.
But it’s important to keep in mind that air purifiers can’t take the place of good cleaning and ventilation.
Regular cleaning and dusting can help cut down on allergens in the air, and making sure the room has enough ventilation can help bring in fresh air.
Also, it’s important to find the source of allergens like pet hair or mold and get rid of them so they don’t build up in the air.
Other Steps for Reducing Allergens in the Home
There are several other things that can be done besides using air purifiers to reduce allergens in the home. These things are:
- Using zippered allergen-resistant or plastic covers on pillows, mattresses, and box springs to control contact with dust mites. Encasing mattresses works better than air cleaners to reduce allergy symptoms.
- Vacuuming once or twice a week using a vacuum cleaner with a small-particle or a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
- Dusting with a damp cloth and using dust mite covers on bedding can also help to reduce allergens.
- Decreasing humidity can also help to reduce mold and dust mites. Instead of using a humidifier, use a dehumidifier or run the central air system to reduce moisture levels.
- Choosing houseplants carefully and cleaning fabric upholstery often can also help to reduce allergens.
- Keeping windows closed, running the AC, and banning pets from the bedroom can help to avoid outdoor allergens.
- Wearing a mask while doing housework if you have allergies.
- Leaving the house for several hours after cleaning it can also help to reduce allergens. If possible, have someone without allergies do the cleaning or consider wet-vacuum cleaning or steam cleaning carpets to remove allergens.
Even though air purifiers can help cut down on allergens in the air, they can’t get rid of them all.
To keep the air clean, it’s important to use air purifiers along with other cleaning methods and good ventilation.
By doing these things, you can cut down on allergens in your home and improve your health and well-being as a whole.
Reducing Allergens in the Home
How to Determine if an Air Purifier is Effective
If you’re thinking of buying an air purifier to get rid of allergens in your home, there are a few things you can do to make sure it’s doing its job:
1. Check the air quality. Before and after using the air purifier, use an air quality monitor to check the air quality. This will help you figure out if the air purifier is making a difference.
2. Check the filter. Every so often, check the filter to see if it needs to be cleaned or replaced. If the filter is dirty, the air purifier won’t work as well.
3. If someone in your home has allergies, you should keep an eye on their symptoms to see if they get better after using the air purifier. If their symptoms get better, it’s a good sign that the air purifier is doing what it’s supposed to do.
4. Take a look at the CADR rating. The Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is a way to measure how well an air purifier works. Find an air purifier with a high CADR rating for the allergen you need to get rid of.
5. Think about the size of the room. Make sure the air purifier is the right size for the room where it will be used. If the air purifier is too small for the room, it won’t do a good job of getting rid of allergens.
Potential Side Effects and Risks of Air Purifiers
People with allergies can benefit from air purifiers, but there are also risks and side effects that come with using them.
High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can get rid of allergens, but they can’t get rid of smells, chemicals, or gases, like smoke.
Filters made of activated carbon can get rid of smells, chemicals, and gases, but they can’t get rid of germs or allergies.
But it’s important to know that air purifiers don’t always work as well as advertised and don’t always clean the air as well as manufacturers claim.
They can also make the air quality in your home worse.
Scientists have found that ionic air purifiers release a number of dangerous air pollutants, such as oxygenated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and toluene, which are often found in paints, paint strippers, and aerosols.
Ozone generators, which are sometimes sold as air purifiers, can also be bad for your health if you breathe through your lungs.
When you breathe in ozone, it can make your airways feel itchy and uncomfortable, give you headaches, pain, and make you cough.
Choosing an Air Purifier
It’s important to know that the market for air purifiers is full of problems, like confusing terms and a lack of peer-reviewed studies on how well they work and if they are safe.
HEPA filters have to meet certain standards.
Other air purifiers, on the other hand, make claims that can’t be checked.
It is best to do research and choose an air purifier that fits your needs and has been tested and reviewed by reliable sources.
Conclusion
In conclusion, dealing with allergies can be hard, but an air purifier can make a huge difference.
It can help relieve symptoms and also make the air in your home better overall.
But it’s important to keep in mind that an air purifier is not a miracle cure.
Still, you should take other steps to reduce allergens in your home, like cleaning and dusting often, washing your bedding often, and avoiding triggers when you can.
If you’re thinking about buying an air purifier, you should do your research and choose one that fits your needs.
Look for one with a HEPA filter, which can catch small particles like pollen and pet dander.
You should also think about the size of the room you’ll be using it in and how loud it will be.
In the end, an air purifier can help with allergies, but it’s important to remember that it’s only one part of the puzzle.
By treating your allergies in a whole-person way, you can improve your quality of life and make it easier to breathe.
So, buy an air purifier and take other steps to get rid of allergens in your home.
Your body will be glad you did.
Links and references
- “Allergies, Types, symptoms and testing” (PDF file on ResearchGate).
- “Allergies: Overview” (book on NCBI Bookshelf).
- “Do Air Purifiers Work? Research, Best Practices, and More” (article on Healthline).
Related articles:
Pollen & Air Purifiers: Benefits, Filters & More
Dust Mites & Air Purifiers: FAQs
Mold Spores & Air Purifiers: FAQs
Hay Fever Relief: HEPA Filters & Air Purifiers
Sinusitis Relief: HEPA Filters 101
