It’s here. The dreaded cold and flu season. No matter how you try to prevent catching it each year, it seems inevitable that you’ll catch some sort of bug this season. And your chances are even higher if you have young children in school—a breeding ground for germs. Sure, you can cover your cough, wipe down surfaces often, and wash your hands frequently, but you can’t really prevent the spread of airborne germs that are passed around after sneezing, coughing, and even breathing. The solution is simple: get an air purifier!
Did you know that viruses can spread six feet in the air, even without a sneeze or cough to propel it? Germs can linger in the air for hours before they land on surfaces. Viruses in the form of small particles are easily transmitted by air currents (referred to as airborne germ transmission). No matter how vigilant you are about covering your cough or sneeze, the spread of germs is inevitable. An air purifier works to remove microbes in the air—even the smallest ones. Not only does this mean that the level of airborne germs like cold and flu viruses will be lowered, but dust, pollen, mold, spores, pet dander, and smoke particles—pollutants that exacerbate colds—will also be filtered out. Essentially, an air purifier takes stagnant air and cleans it so it doesn’t act as a breeding ground for germs.
The American Lung Association reports that on average, American adults get two to four colds per year, while children get about six to eight colds per year. The air quality has an effect on how often you get sick, so while you’re still bound to get a cold because you can’t control air quality at work or school, you can control air quality in the home. The rhinovirus, the smallest size virus, is most often the culprit if you have a cold. Standard air purifiers can’t always control for the miniscule virus, so be sure you’re looking for one that excels at filtering ultrafine particles.
And if you do (unfortunately) happen to get a cold, an air purifier will have a positive impact on the severity of your symptoms. It’s the perfect time of year to invest in an air purifier. Observe how many fewer colds or flu symptoms your family has this year. And if a member of your home has asthma or another respiratory ailment, pay attention to their symptoms; you should notice improvement.