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An air purifier for Asthma? How effective is it?

Around 334 million children worldwide suffer from asthma, making it the most common chronic disease. Are there benefits of using an air purifier for asthma? It is crucial an effective treatment and management of asthma to save lives. So, can an air purifier ease asthma symptoms?  Can an air purifier even prevent it? And which air purifier is the best for asthma? Read about our advice for choosing the most adequate air purifier for your needs.

 

 

As defined by the Mayo Clinic, asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus. This results in a breathing difficulty and coughing, a whistling sound when you breathe out and shortness of breath. It is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the world, with over 300 million people worldwide affected by it. The Netherlands, for instance, is the country with the highest concentration of asthmatic children in the world.

What factors cause asthma?

There are many factors that can cause asthma, but they boil down to either a genetic predisposition or to the home or work environment; these include:

• allergens present inside the home (dust mites, moulds, dander) or in the workplace
• outdoor allergens (pollens and moulds)
• respiratory infections
• respiratory irritants (tobacco smoke, air pollution, irritants in the workplace)
• cold air
• physical exercise
• certain medications (anti-inflammatory drugs)

Can an air purifier alleviate or prevent asthma?

To improve their health, asthmatics must consult their doctor to be prescribed a basic treatment (cortisone, Ventolin). However, there are additional strategies that one can take to alleviate the symptoms at home and the workplace, being the use of an air purifier the most important one.

Permanent use of an air filter in the bedroom that traps fine dust particles with diameters smaller than 2.5 micrometres can not only significantly improve breathing in children with asthma but prevent its onset, according to a new study by US and Chinese scientists.

Buying an air purifier for asthma. What should I look for?

What is important when we consider buying an air purifier for an asthmatic, is that it has an HEPA filter. Also, the noise it emits and where we will place it. As well as not emitting ozone. For a bedroom, the EA15 is ideal. This device produces a decibel level of only 25 dBA. That is almost inaudible to humans. The EA15 also has an extremely low energy consumption and at its max, the device uses only 10W. This is a very economical use compared to other air purifiers. Furthermore, our purifiers do not emit ozone, so you can rest assured when using one of our air purifiers with an asthmatic.

What is the best air purifier for treating asthma?

For an office we recommend the EDC650, a professional air purifier specially designed for office spaces. It is powerful, quiet and energy friendly. All these features make it the perfect office air purifier. Thanks to its high capacity (650 m³ per hour), it is also extremely suitable for larger office spaces. Are you looking for an air purifier for a small office space? Then the EA30 is an excellent alternative.

Asthma in the workplace – what causes it?

There are two types of work-related asthma. There is occupational asthma, which is asthma induced by substances present in a particular work environment. And work-aggravated asthma, which is pre-existing or recently developed asthma whose manifestations are worsened.

Childhood asthma in the Netherlands

In the case of children, it can be diagnosed from the age of 3 or 4 years, when the development of the pulmonary alveoli is fixed. According to a study published in the Lancet, one in every five children in the Netherlands suffers from pollution-induced asthma. That’s about 100,000 children up to the age of 14 total in the country, and the numbers are worsening due to pollution from the transport sector.

 

 

Other strategies to fight asthma

• Keep your windows open when it’s safe to do so to prevent locking irritants into rooms (especially when air purifiers aren’t on). Create a stronger cross draft by opening windows on opposite sides of the room if possible.
• Vacuum often.
• Regularly change air filters to properly maintain HVAC equipment and maximize effectiveness
• Use an exhaust fan in the kitchen. Switch it on before preheating the oven or firing up the burners and leave it running for a few minutes after you’re done cooking.
• Minimize the use of candles or wood fires and ban smoking inside the home.

Need advice or more information?

Take a look at our product page with air purifiers or read more about the air purifier in our extensive advice. Do you have any further questions or would you like some free advice? Call +31 20 6464028 or go directly to our range of air purifiers: