What’s Better for Allergies: A Humidifier or an Air Purifier?
Spring brings long-awaited warmth, but it also awakens Allergy season for many of us. Whether your spring allergies are mostly active outdoors or triggered by an indoor allergen, you may always be looking for an environment that will prevent the environment as much as possible.
There are some indoor gadgets to consider when trying to protect indoor allergies. These experts and doctors discussed whether the air purifier or humidifier Will be helpful These symptom.
Air purifier and humidifier
Air purifiers and humidifiers work in very different ways. Air purifiers are often considered very helpful for environmental allergies.
“Usually, an air purifier enters the air through various filters and then emits particles-free. There are five basic types of filters – electrostatic, ionizer, ozone, ultraviolet and HEPA. HEPA Air Purifier It is the most effective company, made by many companies. ” 1MD Nutrition.
The better the filter inside the air purifier and the stronger the air flow, the filter can be removed from the surrounding environment. Often, these filters need to be replaced or cleaned regularly for optimal functioning and notice a significant reduction in allergic symptoms.
Humidifiers are equipment that boils water or sprays it into the environment with droplets or steam, so that the air has a higher moisture level. In any case, people with allergies often feel uncomfortable nasal passages and itchy eyes, and dry air can aggravate these sensations and trigger asthma symptoms and eczema. Therefore, people living in dry environments sometimes relieve symptoms when they incorporate humidifiers into the environment.
Does an air purifier really help with allergies?
Air purifier It has been studied and found to effectively reduce some indoor allergens. “Air purifiers allergic to the air, so they are more effective in reducing and preventing allergic symptoms,” said Dr. Purvi Parikh. Allergy and Asthma Network.
The key metric to consider is the total size of the space relative to the recommended size of the air purifier of your chosen allergen. one Small desktop purifier Possible negligible impact on large open offices. Nevertheless, if you have indoor allergies, in every room, there is a powerful air purifier that reduces the particles in the space to a significant extent. It’s also worth making sure to put it in Best location for air purifiers You will benefit from it to the greatest extent possible.
An excellent first step is to consider spaces where you usually have allergies indoors, such as the bedroom when you sleep. Try the appropriate size Air purifier with HEPA filter When you usually have indoor allergies, close the door in the space for a few nights to see if your breathing and other symptoms are improved.
At least, there are no obvious drawbacks in air purifiers, although some people make obvious sounds.
Will humidifiers help with allergies?
Humidifiers form steam by heating water (often called a warm mist humidifier), or increase moisture in the air by dropping a small drop of room temperature water into the air (often called a cool mist humidifier).
“In extremely dry climates, this helps wet the mucosa of the respiratory tract and prevents dryness and irritation,” explains Dr. Greenberg. “However, they can create some problems. If there is too much humidity in the room, it can promote the growth of dust mites and mold. And, the water chamber itself needs to be cleaned every day; otherwise, it may become a mold reservoir.”
Usually, moist air makes things like mold and mold more likely to grow, which means humidifier If you increase the humidity in the space too high, it may actually make indoor allergies worse. If you choose the first step to reduce indoor allergies, the air purifier will be a lower maintenance solution. Adding a humidifier can help in a very dry environment, but some maintenance is required to avoid adding other allergens.
If your indoor allergies are associated with mold, you can still use these precautions to use a humidifier:
- Most humidifiers designed for home use require weekly cleaning and empty the water chamber every day if all water is not used. This can be done according to the instructions included with the humidifier, although many people use weak acids (such as vinegar) to remove mineral accumulation and prevent the growth of various parts of the humidifier.
- Monthly, it is recommended to do a complete disinfection cycle, such as a scrub with bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Time is the time of this cleaning cycle, so that you will never mix vinegar and bleach, making you not want to breathe dangerous chemical reactions.
- Consider using distilled water to block growth and mineral deposits on the humidifier, which can be difficult to clean.
- Give humidified areas of your home a chance to “dry” between use. If you use a humidifier Sleep during allergic seasonFor example, if you turn the humidifier off and open to the rest of the house, it may reduce the growth of mold if you put down the humidity during the day.
The best solution for indoor allergies
Minimize indoor allergies and do not stop adding humidifiers or air purifiers. There are some major benefits that can be obtained by modifying your indoor environment in other ways:
- If you do central heating and cooling, check and replace the filter monthly to remove some allergic-induced particles, reducing the difficulty of the air purifier working and making your air conditioner more efficient at the same time.
- Do not underestimate the impact of regular cleaning measures. “Wash the sheets once a week with hot water, clean and vacuum one to three times a week,” Dr. Parick said. She also mentioned that staying alert for leaks can prevent mold from growing, and removing carpets and carpets to easily clean hard surfaces can further reduce allergens.
- During high pollen season, keeping windows closed can reduce pollen allergies, and keeping pets away from sleeping areas can help prevent allergies associated with pets going to doctors at night.
- Wrapped mattress and pillows It can prevent mold and dander from being trapped in these upholstered materials, thus releasing them into your sleeping air space. this Asthma and allergy-friendly certification Provide advice on air cleaners, filters, bedding options and packaging that meet independent testing standards. Still, there are many other brands that can help you reduce the exposure of allergens in mattresses and pillows.
- According to Dr Parikh, placing stuffed animals in a high-therm dryer for 20 minutes a week can reduce the growth of microbial organisms and reduce the allergen potential of children playing with them.
Expert allergy skills
Same behavior Boost your immune system In other cases, it may also contribute to environmental allergies. Good sleep, regular exercise and eating A healthy diet Rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein will only benefit your indoor allergy journey. That being said, some allergens can react strongly even among people who take appropriate measures to improve their immune system health.
Some people find that if they are not allergic to common plants, Add indoor plants Helps keep the air fresh at home.
As mentioned in this article, environmental changes are the main factor in reducing indoor allergies, but medical care can help you too.
“If you are very allergic, allergen immunotherapy (allergic shooting) and board-certified allergic patients may be desensitized to you to indoor allergens and thus become allergic over time,” said Dr. Parikh.
Talk to your medical professional about whether your specific allergies may respond well to allergic lenses and whether this is the next step.
Bottom line
If you have an indoor allergy, it is wise to try to reduce symptoms or help you reduce painful environmental changes more effectively during specific times of spring allergies. Air purifiers can have a positive impact, and if they are properly reduced to space and highly efficient filters (such as HEPA filters) can be selected, the total particulate matter in the air can be reduced.
Humidifiers and allergies are a more complex combination, and careful use may reduce the symptoms of dry airways caused by very dry environments. The casual use of humidifiers without proper maintenance may increase humidity, thereby increasing growth of mold and dust. The inability to clean the humidifier properly can stuff minerals and mold spores into your air. However, with proper maintenance and watching reasonable humidity, even a humidifier can help mitigate the effects of allergens in the room.
