Do you have a colleague or peer asking the same question? Can air purifiers cause sore throats?
What do you think about this claim that using air purifiers for a long time can give you a sore throat or headache, or nose bleeding?
Do you agree with this claim?
Well, This claim is absolutely not true.
The purpose of an air purifier is to remove pollutants from the air in the room. Air purifiers are not involved in reducing the humidity in the air. Instead, these help to prevent cough by filtering the particles from the air.
In this article, we will help you to understand how air purifiers are helpful to us in improving our health by answering all the misconceptions about air purifiers.
How does an air purifier clean the air?
In an air purifier, there are two components: a fan and a filter. The purpose of a fan is to suck the polluted air from the outside.
Then the air is allowed to pass through filters, and particles present in the air get trapped in filters. And the clean air is blown out in the room.
Particles that get trapped in filters are dust, pet danders, bacteria, molds, pollens, and allergens among others.
In an air purifier, HEPA filters can capture 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns.
Can Air purifier cause sore throat?
Air purifiers with Mechanical filters like HEPA Filters do not cause sore throat. They will not affect your Health instead they will improve your health.
A study was conducted to understand the benefits of air purifiers and found that air purifiers have cardiopulmonary benefits for young people as well as for healthy adults.
Air purifiers with HEPA filters help to improve health conditions by removing allergens and airborne particles from the air which has the potential to cause throat infection.
You will find some air purifiers which can cause throat inflammation but these air purifiers perform with different principles unlike to Mechanical Filter Principle.
These Air purifiers are called Air Ioniser or Ionic Air purifiers. These air purifiers work on the principle called Air Ionisation technology.
Air Ionisers along with Ion particles produce ozone in fewer amounts. As this builds up in the room this can eventually cause throat inflammation. Throat inflammation is different from sore throat.
Can an air purifier make you cough?
No, Air purifiers do not make you cough.
In fact, an Air purifier with HEPA filters helps you to relieve your cough if the cough is because by dust or allergens in the air.
Air purifiers remove dust, pollen, pet hairs, and allergens that have the potential to cause cough. And make the indoor air clean and Healthier to breathe.
Typically, these air purifiers make the home safe for asthmatic patients and also for those persons which have respiratory issues.
But, an air Ioniser that produces ion particles and also ozone as a by-product builds up in the room which does not have proper ventilation.
This room condition can cause throat irritation but not cough.
Can an air purifier make you sick?
No, not at all. An air purifier cannot make you sick. Maybe it could be another reason for you getting sick.
Air purifiers are good for your health and well-being. These play a vital role in preventing many diseases by removing dust, and allergens like bacteria and viruses among others.
Instead, you need to say Air purifiers make me Healthy.
We too agree with you that there are Air ionizers and ozone generators that can be responsible for your bad health.
Do air purifiers do more harm than good?
Air purifiers are designed to provide good health to humanity. It is primarily used to relieve respiratory problems and also prevents you from falling sick.
But there are factors that can cause harm to your health and that should to avoided to get the best from an air purifier.
Dry Air in the room:
Dry air circulation in the room is harmful to our health. Breathing dry air can cause respiratory ailments.
You need to focus on increasing humidity in the air. Air purifiers cannot increase the humidity in the air. The main purpose of an air purifier is to make the air clean and fresh.
You can go with this idea of using a Humidifier and also an air purifier in your room. A humidifier increases the humidity in the air and an air purifier makes the air clean and fresh.
Using Ozone generator:
There are people who use ozone generators to clean the indoor air. This can build up ozone in the room which is inhaled eventually.
Ozone is not good for your health. It causes headaches and triggers respiratory ailments in the body. In fact, It does more harm than good.
Instead, you need to switch to air purifiers with HEPA filters that are proven safe and effective for good health and well-being.
How to Use Air Purifiers to prevent Health issues?
Air purifiers can be used for improving your health. As you read the factors that need to avoid, Now let us look at best practices that can help you to get the best uses out of your air purifier.
Select the right air purifier:
Selecting the right Air purifier comes in the first place. While selecting the right air purifier you need to consider the size of the room and also the efficiency of the air purifier.
If you select the small air purifier for the large room then it will take more time to clean the air. In contrast to that, if you take a large air purifier for a small room then it will affect your electricity bill.
Avoid using ozone generator:
You need to avoid using it if you have got one ozone generator. You can use a HEPA Air purifier instead of using an Ozone generator.
It is not recommended by experts.
Cleaning filter regularly:
Filters in the air purifier get clogged with airborne particles that need to be cleaned regularly for good results.
If you do not clean it regularly then air purifiers struggle to clean the air which may result in early wear and tear of filters.
As a result that will hit your pocket.
Typically, it is advised to clean the filters once in a couple of weeks. If the air quality is poor then you need to clean once a week.
Replacing filter regularly:
You need to schedule replacing filters for good results from the air purifier. If you replace filters regularly you can keep your air clean and healthy.
Typically, you need to replace filters every six months.
Modern air purifier comes with the feature of a filter replacement indicator that helps you to replace the filter on time.
Keep your room clean:
Keeping your room clean by dusting it regularly also helps you to maintain the air clean. If the room is not kept clean then the dust in the room again contaminates the clean air.
Conclusion:
Air purifiers with HEPA filters help to clean the air by trapping allergens and dust from the contaminated air.
Air purifiers are not responsible for causing sore throat, headache, or bleeding nose. And also they should not be counted for drying air.
However, Air purifiers are helpful to improve your health. If your room air is dry then look for a good humidifier installation in the room.
Now, you know the answer to the frequently asked question Can air purifiers cause sore throat?
