Can an air purifier actually help your allergy symptoms?

Ever wake up feeling congested or find yourself sneezing and coughing at home more often?

These common allergy and asthma symptoms often leave people searching for relief, and many turn to air purifiers to help. But are they really the best way to reduce symptoms?

How air purifiers can help your home

Air purifiers can help reduce pollutants and contaminants in indoor air, including particles from dust, mold spores, smoke and pet dander. That said, they’re not likely to solve all your allergy problems.

For example, their effectiveness may be limited when it comes to seasonal allergies.

The reason is simple: Air purifiers only remove particles that are floating in the air. Many common allergy triggers – including dust mite allergens and settled pollen – spend much of their time in carpeting, bedding and upholstered furniture rather than circulating through the room.

“People who spend substantial time indoors and have a specific, particulate-driven condition or elevated cardiopulmonary risk are the most likely to benefit from a portable air purifier equipped with a true HEPA filter,” says Dr. Minh Nguyen, a board-certified internist and allergist at Advocate Health Care. “For people who can’t completely avoid pollutants, such as pet allergens, air filtration can help, but it shouldn’t replace efforts to reduce exposure at the source whenever possible.”

Other ways to improve allergy and asthma symptoms

Because air purifiers only capture particles while they are airborne, improving indoor air quality also requires addressing where the pollutants come from and where allergens collect.

“Eliminating or reducing pollutant sources generally provides greater benefit than filtration alone,” Dr. Nguyen says. “Air purifiers work best as one part of a broader strategy to improve indoor air quality, not as a standalone fix.”

Other ways to reduce indoor pollutants and allergy and asthma triggers include:

• Ventilate appropriately to dilute indoor pollutants, especially during cooking, renovation or when using paints and solvents.
• Optimize HVAC filtration with appropriately rated filters and routine maintenance.
• Limit outdoor pollutants from entering your home by keeping windows closed and using air conditioning when appropriate.
• Wash bedding regularly and use physical allergen barriers, such as dust mite-impermeable bedding encasements.

“Consider using a multicomponent approach,” Dr. Nguyen adds. “Combining each of these steps is generally more effective than any single intervention alone for improving respiratory outcomes.”

If you do opt to use an air purifier, choose a true high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. These are your best bet to capture very small airborne particles, including pollen, dust, pet dander and smoke.

Are you trying to find help with allergy and asthma symptoms? Find a doctor in Illinois or Wisconsin.