Asthma is a condition where the airways that are present in your lungs swell and narrow. When asthma is triggered, the muscles that are around these airways can tighten, causing unpleasant symptoms like coughing, chest tightness, trouble breathing, and wheezing.
While there is no known cure for asthma, there are things you can do to manage your symptoms. One way to do this is by reducing your exposure to the allergens in the environment that can trigger your asthma. An air purifier can be instrumental in helping you in this regard.
What Is an Air Purifier?
An air purifier is essentially a portable air cleaner. It helps trap and filter the pollutants that are present in the air inside your home. It also helps sanitize the air that comes through it. One of the most popular types of air purifiers is the ionizing air purifier, which traps particulars using an electric field.
Is There a Difference Between an Air Filter and An Air Purifier?
An air purifier is not the same as an air filter, although both terms are used interchangeably. While both devices can help trap and filter the pollutants in the air, only an air purifier will sanitize the air. An air purifier could be a part of the HVAC system in your home or maybe a separate, portable unit.
Some types of filters that are used in both devices are HEPA (high-efficiency particulate arrestance), washable, disposable, and carbon.
Can Air Purifiers Help if You Have Asthma?
Some of the common asthma triggers that are, in fact, present inside your home include pet dander, dust, smoke, mold, pollen from outside, etc. Any air purifier can trap these triggers and release clean air, reducing your exposure to allergens.
However, keep in mind that how well an air purifier will help you manage your symptoms will depend on the filter design, airflow rate of the purifier, size of the allergen particles, and the location of the air purifier in your home. To ensure your air purifier is effective, it’s important that you buy an air purifier with the right filters and ensure that it is the right size for the room you intend to place it in.
