| Did You Know? | | | | HEPA (high efficiency particulate air filter) air |
| Asthma and other allergic diseases have become | | | | purifiers are extremely effective in controlling |
| increasingly prevalent, affecting over 50 million | | | | allergens such as dust, dander, and pollen in your |
| people, or more than 20 percent of the | | | | home. Composed of a mat of fibers, true HEPA |
| population. | | | | filters must be able to filter out 99.97% of |
| Asthma is a chronic illness that affects over 22 | | | | airborne particulates 0.3 microns or larger. |
| million Americans. Asthmatics suffer from | | | | Therefore, for asthma and allergy sufferers, |
| constricted, sore, and inflamed airways that are | | | | HEPA (high efficiency particulate air filter) air |
| highly sensitive. As a result of this sensitivity, | | | | purification systems are great for controlling |
| exposure to irritants and allergens result in strong | | | | allergens such as dust, dander, and pollen in your |
| reactions in the airways which prevent the lungs | | | | home. Because air purifiers with HEPA filters do |
| from taking in more air. Especially bad episodes of | | | | not emit any chemicals, they are great for people |
| this constriction and inflammation in the | | | | with sensitive lungs. Similarly, air cleaners with |
| respiratory system are called "asthma attacks." | | | | Activated Carbon (charcoal that has been treated |
| These episodes can be triggered by a number of | | | | with oxygen to trap particulates, gases, and |
| environmental stimulants such as pollen, dander, | | | | odors) also do not utilize chemical filtration such as |
| dust, warm air, cold air, and dust. | | | | ozone. Many air purifiers utilize a combination of |
| Subsequently, asthma suffers experience | | | | these two filtration methods, and these make |
| symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, | | | | excellent choices for asthmatics, allergy suffers, |
| wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain and/or | | | | and those suffering from other respiratory |
| tightness, etc. In extreme episodes of asthma | | | | conditions. |
| attacks, death can occur when an asthmatic loses | | | | Unfortunately, it is estimated that over 5,000 |
| consciousness and dies from lack of oxygen. | | | | Americans die from asthma each year, and 1 in 4 |
| While many people with asthma also suffer from | | | | urban children suffer from the illness. As a result, |
| allergies, allergy suffers do not always necessarily | | | | billions of dollars are spent every year for asthma |
| have asthma. Nonetheless, allergy sufferers | | | | treatment, which consist of either quick relief |
| experience similar symptoms as asthmatics. An | | | | medicines such as bronchodilators, or long-term |
| allergy is defined as "an abnormal sensitivity to a | | | | asthma control medications which have to be |
| given substance, including pollen, drugs, or | | | | taken on a daily basis. For allergy sufferers, the |
| numerous environmental triggers." Allergy | | | | cost of regular injections, medications, or tests is |
| symptoms can be as benign as a runny nose or | | | | also significant, and is on the rise. With this |
| wheezing, or as life threatening as shock and | | | | growing cost in asthma and allergy treatment, a |
| death. Unfortunately, while asthma can be | | | | quality air purifier is a sound investment. |
| somewhat controlled, airborne allergens are some | | | | While an air cleaner cannot replace the need for |
| of the biggest triggers of allergy symptoms. In | | | | asthma and allergy medication, by removing |
| addition, allergy triggers exist everywhere - from | | | | pollutants from the air, symptoms resulting from |
| food, to organic dander, to plants, and to the air | | | | these disorders can be significantly reduced. |
| we breathe. For asthma and allergy sufferers, | | | | |