Saturday, February 29, 2020

How an air purifier helps with your spring allergies

HEALTH Updated Feb. 27, 2020 2:11 PM




Spring is the season for wheezing and sneezing thanks to spring allergies. Spring allergies are more common than you think. According to the ACAAI, it affects more than 20 million adults in the United States. Symptoms include itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose, and post-nasal drip. In some cases, it can also cause headaches  or ear pain. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to prevent these allergy symptoms. For example, you can take an antihistamine. Using an air purifier can help as well. How do these devices work? Want to know? If so, you’re on the right page. Keep reading to learn more!
spring allergy
Photo by Luisella Planeta Leoni

What causes spring allergies? 

Springtime is the worst season when it comes to allergies. The reason is simple—it's when trees and plants release pollen into the air. Mold can also be a problem. If you’re allergic, your immune system will release antibodies to attack these allergens. Ultimately, it’s this attack that causes the body to release histamines—the compound that's responsible for your allergy symptoms.

What does an air purifier do?

Air purifiers are devices that are designed to remove contaminants from the air. In doing so, you’ll have better indoor air quality, which will help prevent spring allergies. As it is, there are different types of air purifiers. For example, some use HEPA technology. Other devices may use ultraviolet light or activated carbon.

How an air purifier can help with your allergies

Air purifiers are one of the best things that you can use to prevent symptoms. Here's why. 
spring pollen
Photo by Nita

They're effective at removing pollen 

Pollen is a powder-like substance that’s produced by grasses, trees, and flowers as part of their reproduction process. It’s also one of the major allergens that’s responsible for spring allergies. Fortunately, air purifiers are highly capable of removing these particles. Take HEPA filters, for example. They’re able to trap pollen by forcing air through a fine mesh.

They're capable of removing mold spores 

Certain fungi can produce mold spores, which are especially common during the spring. Assuming that they’re airborne, you can easily breathe them in without knowing—and that can trigger your allergies. That’s why you want to use an air purifier. These devices are capable of catching the spores before they enter the body; it does this by drawing air into the filters. As a result, clean air will be circulated throughout the room, allowing you to breathe easier and combat those spring allergies

They'll trap other allergens 

A high-quality air purifier does more than just trap pollen and mold. It’ll also catch other contaminants such as pet dander, dust, and tobacco smoke. In other words, you’ll be able to breathe much more easily during the spring season. Let's face it—the last thing that you want is to breathe in more pollutants when you already have allergies symptoms!
spring flowers
Photo by Arno Smit

Preventing spring allergies 

As you can see, an air purifier can help in more than one way. Given that, why wouldn't you want to give it a try? While an air purifier will not help you combat spring allergies while you’re outdoors, there are still steps you can take. Check out this list of most commons spring allergies and how to treat them. If you suffer from spring allergies, keep in mind some foods can make them worse. Did you find this article helpful? If so, be sure to share it with your friends!
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