Asthma causes the airways in the lungs to narrow and swell. During an asthma attack, the muscles around these airways tighten, causing chest tightness, coughing, wheezing, and trouble breathing. While there’s no cure, asthma can be managed. Limiting exposure to allergens in the environment that trigger asthma may help. An air purifier can help reduce environmental triggers.
What Is It?
An air purifier traps and filters pollutants from the air indoors. It even sanitizes the air that passes through it. A popular option today is an ionizing air purifier that uses an electric field to trap particles.
Is It the Same as An Air Filter?
No. An air filter forces air through a filter to trap pollutants. An air purifier does that but also sanitizes the air. An air filter is often part of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Both a purifier and a filter could have filters that are washable, disposable, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA), or carbon.
What About a Humidifier?
Humidifiers work by adding moisture to the air to prevent dryness. They don’t affect allergens or environmental triggers of asthma, but they may help one breathe easily. But too much humidity can cause mold or dust mites which worsen asthma.
How Can an Air Purifier Help?
Dust, pet dander, smoke, mold, and pollen can trigger asthma. An air purifier takes these triggers out by trapping them in its filter. It then sanitizes the air and releases it. It is noteworthy that studies have found mixed or inconclusive results regarding the effectiveness of air filters in alleviating asthma. Some believe that air filters are better at trapping particles than purifiers. Other studies find that air purifiers relieve asthma symptoms in children and are better at getting rid of allergens like smoke. But they tend to be less effective at reducing allergens like animal dander.
When choosing an air purifier to help with asthma symptoms, ensure that it meets HEPA requirements, so it filters very small particles. Ensure that the purifier can filter and sanitize the air too. Check that it’s the correct size for the room in which it will be placed and pick up multiple purifiers for separate rooms.