How Do Air Purifiers And Humidifiers Impact Your Health?

Air purifiers and humidifiers have different impacts on air quality that can affect our health. Here are some of the most common conditions:

Asthma and allergies – Some air purifiers are designed to reduce allergens in the air, such as dust mites, pet dander, pollen or mold spores. Many people who suffer from allergies or asthma use an air purifier to reduce their exposure to these triggers. These allergens are carried on particles floating in the air, often so tiny they become suspended for hours at a time. Traditional air filters capture these particles, while the Molekule air purifier is the only technology that can effectively destroy allergens.

Humidifiers, on the other hand, have no impact on allergen levels. Instead, they may help symptoms feel less severe if your nasal passages are dry and irritated. Note that humidifiers do not reduce allergy or asthma symptoms, and they might even increase the risk of allergies and asthma (Svendsen, Gonzales & Commodore, 2018). Moreover, if a humidifier is not properly cleaned, it can develop mold and actually introduce mold spores into the air, triggering allergy and asthma symptoms.

Colds, flu and respiratory irritation – Common air purifiers capture particles in the air, though some particles that carry viruses are so tiny they can pass through regular air filters. Though an air purifier cannot help an existing cold, it might ease your symptoms by removing other respiratory irritants from the air.

According to the NIH, a humidifier may help relieve a stuffy nose and the discomfort of colds or flu. The right level of humidity may also provide a protective benefit from viruses. According to several studies (Lapidus et al., 2013), increasing the humidity in the air to a range of 40-60 percent reduces the infectiousness of viruses. It is also important to understand that a humidifier cannot cure you once you are already sick, but can make symptoms less miserable by preventing dry, scratchy nose and throat.

Dry air – An air purifier does not add moisture to the air, so it will not help with excessively dry air, which can exacerbate a range of respiratory ailments, including asthma, bronchitis and sinusitis.

A humidifier increases the moisture in the air, thus increasing relative humidity and improving dry air conditions. When the air is too dry, often during winter when the heater is on, it can irritate your nose and throat.