Combating Hayfever, Seasonal and Dust Mite Allergies with HEPA Filter Air Purifier

Air purifiers are a must-have if you have someone who suffers from allergies. Know all about seasonal allergies & the usefulness of HEPA filter air purifiers. 

Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system to allergens like pollen, mold spores, dust mites, and animals. Sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, weakness, and itchy, watery eyes are all common symptoms of allergic rhinitis. In contrast to the transient symptoms of a cold or the flu, allergy symptoms may last for weeks. Allergic reactions may often trigger or intensify asthma, cause sinus infections, or cause skin eruptions like eczema or hives. Symptoms often disrupt sleep and induce daytime sleepiness, which impairs attention and raises the risk of mistakes, accidents, and injuries.

So what commonly causes allergies? One of the most important causes of allergies can be dust. Dust gets stuck deep in the fabrics of our home textiles, such as carpets, bed linens, curtains, and upholstered furniture, in most households.

Besides, your home might appear spotless, but a small, trouble-causing invader may be hiding in plain sight. Mites are most commonly found in bedrooms, which provide ideal environments due to the numerous hiding places. The mites eat stray human skin cells and extract moisture from the atmosphere. They prefer temperatures between 65 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit, and humidity levels of more than 50 percent are ideal. Using the air conditioner or a dehumidifier to keep the humidity in the air down can be helpful. Humidity levels below about 50% are needed to keep mites at bay; a hygrometer may be used to measure this.

A HEPA filter such as Acekool HEPA Filter Air Purifier with a high MERV rating (around 11 or 12) can help trap a lot of dust and keep it out of the air. To get the most out of your filters, replace them every three months.

Let's Look at The Most Common Types of Allergies:

Dust Mite Allergy

Dust mites are tiny creatures that feed on dust, dead skin, and moisture. When washing closets and cupboards, bedding and mattresses, carpeting, and upholstered furniture, dust mite particles are often encountered. A dust mite allergy may cause asthma or a flare-up of eczema (atopic dermatitis), a chronic skin condition that causes an itchy rash, in addition to allergic rhinitis.

Symptoms of dust mite allergies include:

  • Sneezing
  • A stuffy nose
  • Feet that are itchy, swollen, or watery
  • Nose congestion
  • Nose, mouth, or throat itch
  • Itchy body
  • Post Nasal drip (a flow of mucus from behind your nose into your throat)
  • Coughing

If your asthma is triggered by a dust mite allergy, you might also experience:

  • Breathing problems
  • Tightness or pain in the chest
  • When you exhale, you'll hear a whistling or wheezing sound.
  • Shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing will make it difficult to sleep.

Seasonal Allergy

Seasonal allergy refers to an allergy that only happens during a certain season. The most common seasonal allergy is hay fever (allergic rhinitis). The majority of springtime seasonal allergies are caused by trees.

In certain people, pollen from trees may act as an allergen, causing spring allergies. Grass and some weeds are the true causes of summertime seasonal allergies. It is the most common cause for people with hay fever, according to many reports. During the rainy season, pollen from various plants induces seasonal allergies in some people. In the winter, most outdoor allergens are dormant. So be on the lookout for reactions to indoor allergens like mold and pet dander.

It's time to see a doctor if allergy symptoms are affecting the quality of life and productivity. An allergy test may be recommended to determine the source and establish a tailored response. Some people receive allergy shots to alleviate symptoms and gradually desensitize themselves to allergens.

For seasonal allergies, a doctor may prescribe antihistamines two weeks before symptoms are expected to appear. Over-the-counter nasal spray, pain relievers, antihistamines, and decongestants can all be prescribed by a doctor or pharmacist.

The following are some additional symptom-relieving suggestions:

  • Using a bulb syringe, rinse the nose with a saline solution.
  • Inhale steam vapors from a warm bowl of water or in the tub.
  • Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol (which causes swelling) to alleviate nasal pressure. 
  • Use over-the-counter drops to relieve eye pain.

However, always see a doctor first.

Pollen Allergy

One of the most common causes of seasonal allergies is pollen. Pollen allergy is commonly referred to as "hay fever," but experts refer to it as "seasonal allergic rhinitis."

A pollen allergy is one of the most common outdoor allergies in the world due to its large reach. In reality, pollen allergies affect one out of every seven people on the planet. Some people are allergic to pollen all year, while others are only affected during those seasons, such as pollen season.

Some people have an allergic reaction to pollen because their immune system misunderstands pollen to be harmful. The immune system releases antibodies to destroy pollen particles to combat this unknown foreign invader. This process releases histamine, which is one of the most common pollen allergy triggers.

When allergic people are exposed to the pollen they are allergic to, they will experience one or more of these pollen allergy symptoms:

  • Congestion in the nose
  • Facial discomfort due to pressure in the sinuses
  • A stuffy nose
  • Feet that are itchy, swollen, and watery
  • Throat irritation
  • Coughing, sneezing, and wheezing
  • Swollen, blue-colored skin under the eyes
  • Severe asthma symptoms

Preventive Measures

Avoiding recognized allergens is the only way to avoid an allergic reaction. When that isn't an option, there are several things you can do to help minimize pollen, mold spores, dust mites, and animal allergens:

  • Make preparations ahead of time. Check the weather forecast and pollen counts for the day.
  • Limit your exposure to the outdoors as much as possible, particularly first thing in the morning.
  • Wash your face and hands often.
  • Keep the windows and doors shut during allergy season.
  • To eliminate particulates from heating and cooling systems, consider installing high-efficiency media filters. In vacuums, use HEPA filters. Try installing an air purifier like the Acekool HEPA Filter Air Purifier which can eliminate 99.97% of PM2.5, Formaldehyde, bacteria, pollen, smoke, mold spores, dust, odors, and pet dander. Furthermore, when it's time for a new filter, a built-in LED indicator in the purifier alerts you.
  • To avoid inhalation of small particles, wear a NIOSH-rated N-95 mask.
  • Reduce the relative humidity in your home to keep mites and mold at bay.

Enhancing indoor air quality, which can be achieved with the aid of air purifiers, can play a big role in controlling allergy symptoms. Pick an air purifier with HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, such as Acekool HEPA Filter Air Purifier, which eliminates 99.97 percent of indoor air contaminants with a scale of 0.3 microns or smaller.

A thick filter is included with HEPA air purifiers, which cleans the matted fibers and traps dust and dirt particles. Such tiny particles in the indoor air can cause allergic reactions. To trap contaminants in the indoor air, air purifiers use three different mechanisms: impact, interception, and diffusion. Hence, installing an air purifier may be extremely beneficial in coping with allergies and their symptoms.