Asthma is a medical condition that narrows airways and inflames them. The patients experience difficulty breathing, chest tightness, production of extra mucus, and coughing. While asthma is a chronic medical condition without any cure, we always have the option to manage its symptoms with prescribed medications and indoor air quality optimization. One way to control environmental factors that trigger the condition is by using air purification technology.
Humans spend most of their time indoors, which exposes them to allergens, dust, dirt, pollen, and particulates. Asthma patients are highly susceptible to these allergens in the indoor environment. Using air purification technology can manage symptoms by eliminating these contaminants from the indoor environment.
Does an Air Purifier for Asthma Really Work?
First things first, what is an air purifier? An air purifier is a filtration device that features air filters and a fan to extract small particulates and recirculate the fresh air across the room. These devices are powerful enough to trap several pollutants, such as smoke, bacteria, pet dander, mold, and mildew. There are quite a few studies that suggest that the use of air purifiers reduces the intensity of symptoms in asthma and allergy patients. A 2018 study investigated the impact of air purifiers on asthma patients; the study involved 50 participants who had air purifiers in their bedrooms. The findings suggested improvements in indoor air quality and the respiratory system of asthma patients having air purifiers.
While there are different types of air purifiers available, high-efficiency particulate air filters are robust to trap 99.97 percent of particle sizes as small as 0.3 microns. A study conducted in 2016 postulated that air purifiers with HEPA filters eliminate up to 50 percent of contaminated particles from the indoor air and lower the intensity of asthma symptoms. Other types of air filters include electrostatic, ultraviolet, and ionizers. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests avoiding ozone-producing filters because they can intensify and worsen asthma symptoms. In some cases, air filters featuring electrostatic precipitators, UV lights without proper lamp coating, and plasma cleaners can release ozone. Therefore, we should avoid these if possible.
The Benefits of Air Purifiers
There are several benefits of an air purifier for asthma, such as:
- Research studies suggest that daily use of air purification technology decreases medical costs for asthma and allergy patients
- Indoor air filtration helps reduce lung inflammation and provides relief to the symptoms of asthma
- The use of air purifiers with high-efficiency particulate air filters, along with other measures, such as vacuuming, optimize the quality of life for asthma patients
- High-efficiency air purifiers remove airborne particulates, such as pollen, dander and bacteria, leading to improved breathing
Choosing the Right Air Filter
If you are purchasing an air purifier for asthma, keep the following things in mind for air filters:
- Check for the HEPA label when buying a HEPA air purifier. Anything that says HEPA-like won’t work
- Choose a filter that has a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of 10 or above
- There are certain purifiers that are certified for asthma and allergy patients because they are asthma- and allergy-friendly and do not produce ozone
If you are looking for an asthma-friendly air purifier, do check out our VisionAir Blue and Pure Air Shield 3300. Should you have any questions, feel free to ask.
