Air purifiers are an invaluable ally in combating indoor pollution. Consequently, they bring a number of health benefits, from reducing allergies to improving skin health.
Indoor air pollution is an often underestimated health risk. Generally, the level of pollutants inside homes is two to five times higher than outside, even in cities.
Sources of indoor pollution vary. They range from solvents in paint and new furniture over dust and mites to mold spores and animal dander.
Today, indoor pollution is becoming an ever-greater health risk. Due to COVID-19, people are spending much more time in their homes, increasing exposure.
Air purification systems can help.
Whether an air purifier uses carbon filters, high-efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filters, ionizers, electrostatic precipitators, or UV light, the end result is the same. Health-threatening pollutants are removed, and indoor air quality improved.
Here are the five most important and unexpected health benefits of air purification.
1 – Improve Skin Health
If you install an air purifier, you might find that the stubborn acne you’ve been struggling with for years suddenly improves. Wait – what?
The fact is that skin problems are often symptoms of low-grade inflammatory processes. These impair the proper functioning of our immune system, which in turn impacts skin health.
Inflammatory processes happen when your body encounters irritating substances from various sources. Some are caused by chemicals in food, which is why changing your diet is an effective way to get rid of acne.
Air pollution is another major irritant. Breathing unclean air for extended periods of time can trigger inflammatory immune responses. By eliminating pollutant particles, air purifiers help you fight acne.
2 – Prevent Respiratory Infections
Especially during the pandemic, it’s important to know that air purifiers reduce the risk of respiratory infections.
Bacteria are large enough to be caught by filter-based systems, but viruses are much smaller. Still, running HEPA systems for an extended period eventually removes 99.94 to 99.97% of the viruses in the air.
In fact, air purifiers don’t even have to remove all airborne germs to prevent disease. Exposure to air pollution significantly increases respiratory infection risk – for children by over 30%, for adults by 19%. Air purifiers eliminate the indoor pollution that contributes to this risk increase.
Overall, air purification systems lower the risk of catching respiratory infections from influenza and bronchitis to pneumonia and COVID-19.
3 – Alleviate Asthma and Allergies
A crucial benefit of air purifiers is that they can alleviate asthma and allergies by removing their triggers.
Indoor pollutants like pet dander, dust mites, or mold spores can trigger asthma attacks. They irritate the airways, causing a narrowing and swelling that makes it hard to breathe. Eliminating these pollutants will reduce the frequency of attacks.
The same goes for allergies. A 2016 study found significant reductions of airborne allergenic particles after air purifiers were installed in test subjects’ homes. Patients suffering from allergies showed improvements within twelve weeks.
4 – Increase Concentration and Improve Sleep
Improved indoor air quality also has mental health benefits. Installing an air purification system can boost your concentration and mood. It also leads to deeper, more restful sleep.
This is partly because cleaner air automatically leads to easier and deeper breathing. In turn, this improves oxygen supply to the brain, which boosts energy and concentration levels.
What’s more, some air purifiers also emit negatively charged ions as part of their technological setup. These ions have been shown to have direct positive effects on mood.
Overall, cleaner air translates to higher alertness during the day and better sleep at night, leading to a general sense of well-being.
5 – Eliminate Insects
A final unexpected benefit of some air purifiers is that they also exterminate bugs, such as fruit flies and mosquitoes.
At the minimum, this removes a serious summer annoyance.
But it may also be a serious health safeguard in the future. Cases of mosquito-borne diseases like Zika, malaria, and dengue are increasing and spreading further north. With climate change, winters are often not cold enough to kill the insects carrying these diseases.
Air purifiers offer an extra level of protection.
Conclusion
The health benefits of air purification are varied and often unexpected. From reducing allergies and asthma to battling skin impurities, there are many upsides to breathing clean air in your home.
A reliable, high-quality air purifier that follows EPA guidelines has immediate benefits, but it’s also a long-term investment in future health. It will help you breathe more easily – and set your mind at peace.
Reply