What Kind of Air Purifier for Emphysema?

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Updated Jul 7, 2022 7:11 PM

If you suffer from a respiratory ailment known as emphysema, there may be one question on your mind regarding air purifiers. What is the most recommended air purifier for emphysema? That’s where we come in.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Air purifiers can help lessen the severity of emphysema-related symptoms, though there is still much research to be done.
  • If you are suffering from COPD, go with a filter-based air purifier instead of an ozone generator or ionic air purifier.
  • To maximize relief from symptoms, run the air purifier continuously and be sure to regularly maintain the filters.

What is Emphysema?

Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD.) This respiratory disease is caused by the walls of the lungs becoming damaged. The end result? Emphysema sufferers experience shortness of breath and other symptoms.

To ease coughing and symptoms, you’ll want to maintain your air purifier. This includes cleaning the air filter when it’s too dirty, changing the air purifier HEPA filter, and using disinfectant in your air purifier.

Insider Tip

Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD.) This respiratory disease is caused by the walls of the lungs becoming damaged.

How Can an Air Purifier Help With Emphysema?

Air purifiers work by filtering out impurities from the air. Folks with emphysema or any COPD can experience an uptick in symptoms when exposed to air pollution. In other words, emphysema sufferers should make sure their home’s air is adequately filtered and purified. There hasn’t been too much research in this regard, but the studies that do exist suggest a strong link between air pollutants and a worsening of COPD symptoms.

What Kind of Air Purifier is Best for Emphysema?

There are several different types of air purifiers, each with its own purification mechanism. Most of them should help ease emphysema symptoms, but one or two may actually worsen symptoms.

Generally speaking, choose an air purifier equipped with a genuine HEPA filter, an activated carbon filter, or an electrostatic filter to lessen emphysema symptoms. Try to avoid ozone generators and ionic air purifiers, as these types push ozone out into the air, which can be breathed in and complicated the symptoms of COPD. You can also look out for what kind of air purifier kills germs.

Tips for Using an Air Purifier to Treat Emphysema Symptoms

Here are some general guidelines to help you get the most out of your air purifier so you can experience relief from symptoms.

Insider Tip

Generally speaking, choose an air purifier equipped with a genuine HEPA filter, an activated carbon filter, or an electrostatic filter to lessen emphysema symptoms.

Run it Continuously

Do not be afraid to run a modern air purifier all of the time, particularly if you are having a COPD episode. We would suggest that if you are going to be using it continuously, do so at a low setting. Running it 24/7 at a high setting could eventually tax the internal mechanisms of the purifier and cause you to rapidly go through filters.

Replace or Clean Filters

Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s suggestions and replace or clean the integrated filters as recommended. HEPA filters need to be replaced every six months to a year while activated carbon and electrostatic filters should be cleaned once a month. Moreover, you’ll want to compare HEPA filters vs air purifiers to see which one works best.

In addition, you can use a carbon filter accompanied by a HEPA filter to remove volatile organic compounds(VOCs) from the air that is released by using toxic cleaning agents, paints, and related materials. You can do this once you know what a VOC air purifier is.

Warning

Folks with emphysema or any COPD can experience an uptick of symptoms when exposed to air pollution.

F.A.Q.S

Can air purifiers improve your heart and lung health?

In theory, yes. There are not many studies related to air purifier efficacy when it comes to improving heart and lung health, but there have been many studies tying air pollution to poor heart and lung health.


What are the types of air purifiers?

There are a diverse array of air purifier types, including HEPA purifiers, activated carbon purifiers, electrostatic purifiers, UV purifiers, ionic purifiers, and more.


Who benefits from air purifiers?

Just about anyone can benefit from a good air purifier, as they filter out impurities from the air. Many diseases have been linked to air pollution.



STAT: HEPA filters are highly effective at clearing the air because they remove 99.97 percent of particles 0.3 microns (1/83,000 of an inch) in diameter or larger. (source)

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