Internal Medicine

Use of air purifiers for allergies

definition

Air purifiers suck the room air through a filter, cleaning it of a number of particles that can potentially trigger or worsen allergies. This includes not only the typical allergens such as animal hair, house dust and pollen.

Pathogens can also be filtered out of the air. When choosing the air purifier, it is important to choose the correct filter size and strength. Only if the filter is fine enough can all relevant substances be filtered out of the room air. Since many allergy sufferers have problems especially at night, the air purifier in the bedroom is recommended.

What is the use of an air purifier if you have an allergy?

Air purifiers are an extremely effective means of creating almost pollen-free indoor air for allergy sufferers. To do this, the air is sucked in by the air cleaner and passed through a filter. The small particles that pollute the air get caught in this filter.

This mainly includes pollen, but the air is also cleaned of other substances. In general, air purifiers help against pollen, pet dander, and house dust. These particles cause allergy sufferers a lot of problems because they react directly to the proteins they contain. But other irritating substances can also be filtered by the air purifier, so that the lungs of affected allergy sufferers can also be protected.

This applies above all to pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and mold spores that tend to settle in the already irritated airways of allergy sufferers. Smoke from cigarettes, for example, can also be partially filtered out of the air, which can prevent additional lung damage from the harmful substances.

While most allergy sufferers already have problems with their allergies outdoors (especially with pollen allergies), this effect is usually even more pronounced in closed rooms, as a diverse mixture of potentially allergenic substances comes together there. An air purifier is therefore particularly recommended for the home environment.

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Which air purifiers are there?

Air purifiers are available in various shapes and sizes from a wide variety of companies.

When choosing the right air purifier, the most important thing is the choice of filter.

Three different filter techniques are useful for allergy sufferers: The HEPA filters are so-called High Efficiency Particulate Air Filters. These are fiberglass mats that filter even the smallest particles out of the air. However, they are not able to remove odors, fine dust and gases from the air.
Activated carbon filters, on the other hand, are particularly effective against odors, but they can also filter pollen, dust and animal hair well. What both methods have in common is that the filters have to be changed regularly. Allergy sufferers must be particularly careful not to inhale substances that are harmful to them when switching.

The ionizer is an elegant alternative. The particles in the air are negatively charged and then electrically attracted by the air cleaner. The big advantage is that no filter is necessary with this method, which is why it is particularly popular with allergy sufferers.
Air filters that are equipped with aroma to improve the smell in the room often trigger severe allergic reactions and are therefore not suitable. Another criterion for an air purifier is the size, which should be adapted to the size of the room.

The volume of the cleaner can also be an important criterion, depending on the location.

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What does an air purifier cost?

Air purifiers are available in a price range between 50 and 1000 euros, so it is difficult to make a general statement about the costs.

For use in private households, devices are available from around 100 euros. However, the quality of the air purifier should not only be measured in terms of cost. In order for the device to be effective against potentially allergenic substances, the right filter strength must be selected. This is the only way that even the smallest particles can be filtered out of the air.
The operating costs, such as for electricity, regular cleaning and possibly the replacement of defective parts, should not be neglected when calculating the costs.

Also read our topic: House dust allergy

Does the health insurance company cover the costs?

Although air purifiers have been described by many as quite effective, their exact effectiveness has not yet been adequately documented. Therefore, the costs for the purchase are only rarely covered by health insurance companies.
However, if an allergy sufferer cannot sleep due to his or her strong allergy, an air purifier can still be requested. In some cases, the health insurance company is willing to bear the costs.

For which allergies is an air purifier suitable?

Air purifiers are particularly suitable for allergies where the allergens are transmitted through the air. On the one hand, this includes allergies to house dust. Regular changing and washing of bed linen and consistent cleaning have a greater effect on the severity of the allergy. However, an air purifier can also filter the dust that is thrown up from the air.

Those suffering from hay fever benefit from an air purifier, especially during the pollen season. While the pollen can be quickly blown away in the open air, it settles in closed rooms. Pollen from outside also adheres to clothing, which dissolves again inside and plagues allergy sufferers there. An air purifier in the bedroom that is turned on for some time to purify the air for the night can therefore be helpful.

In addition, clothing that was worn outside should be stored in a different room. Even the hair of pets that cause allergies can be filtered out of the room air with the air purifiers, but pets are not recommended if you are allergic to them. Since the air purifiers also filter other pollutants such as pathogens and smoke particles, they can be recommended to all allergy sufferers whose respiratory tract is easily irritated.

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