Do Air Purifiers Cause Sinus Problems?

During the summer and spring months, most people experience sinus problems; having uncomfortable and difficulty breathing. This is where air purification comes in handy. However, there has been a heated debate on whether or not air purifiers help with a sinus problem. There are mixed reactions; Some believe these machines cause sinus problems.

So, do air purifiers cause sinus problems? No. Air purifiers are strongly recommended by doctors, scientists, and allergy experts, to maintain healthy indoor air quality. Air purifiers with HEPA and activated carbon filters help eliminate dust, mold, bacteria, viruses, pollen, and allergens from the air. All these are culprits that potentially cause sinus problems and allergic reactions.

If you often experience sinusitis symptoms easily, getting an air purifier would really help. This article explores sinus infection, its cause, what types of air purifiers are best for sinus problems, and their side effects. Keep reading to find out more.

What Is Sinus Infection And What Causes It?

Sinus infection is a swelling or inflammation of the sinuses tissue lining. It is often referred to as sinusitis. Sinuses make mucus that keeps your nose moist and, in turn, protects your lungs against allergens, pollutants, and dust. Healthy sinuses are air-filled, while infected ones are filled with fluid.

Sinus infection can have multiple causes. In most cases, it is caused by bacteria that make sinus tissue swell and become sensitive. Other causes may include allergens, viruses, and mold.

Do Air Purifiers Cause Sinus Problems?

There is no documentation showing the possibility of air purifiers causing sinus problems. It is evident that air purifiers effectively remove dust, pollens, fungus, radon, bacteria, and viruses from the air. All these pollutants can irritate the lung and cause sinus infection or other serious respiratory diseases.

Air purifiers help prevent many lung and respiratory diseases. Studies have shown the primary cause of sinusitis are colds and allergies. When nasal passages are blocked, the mucus in the sinus lining backs up, causing the bacteria to rapidly grow out of control. Air purifiers reduce the risk of being exposed to bacteria that causes sinus infection.

Will an Air Purifier Help With Sinus Problems?

To a certain extent, yes. An air purifier can help prevent or mitigate sinus problems. As aforementioned, by eliminating dust, allergens, and other pollutants from the air you breathe, an air purifier can significantly reduce the chances of developing sinus infections and other respiratory infections caused by bacteria or viruses. Keep in mind that you’ll still inhale pollutants whenever you leave your house; using an air purifier isn’t a 100% guarantee against allergen and bacteria causing infection. It is rather an effective method to minimize your exposure.

Most importantly, an air purifier’s ability to help with sinus problems is entirely preventive. If you are already infected, it won’t reduce the effects of the symptoms caused by the bacteria. Instead, seek medical advice.

What Types Of Air Purifiers Best For Sinus Problems

Filters play a critical role when it comes to air purifiers best for sinus problems. While an air purifier sucks in contaminated air, it’s the filters that trap particles and pollutants, leaving you with clean and healthy air to breathe. Air Purifiers with HEPA and activated carbon filters are the most suitable for sinus problems. Here are a few best air purifiers for sinus problems:

Can Air Purifiers Cause Breathing Problems?

While air purifiers are considered safe and recommended by doctors, there have been cases of people experiencing difficulty breathing and sinus infection after using an air purifier. They showed symptoms including headaches, coughing, asthma, and sore throat. There is a likelihood that air purifiers can trigger health issues related to breathing and lung complications. However, this isn’t the case for all air purifiers.

There are certain air purifiers that use ozone technology or emit ozone as an end-product of its function. Ozone can irritate the lung and trigger asthma, sore throat, coughing, etc. So, if you want to buy an air purifier, opt for an ozone-free purifier.

Can Air Purifiers Cause Nosebleeds?

There is no substantial proof of air purifiers, regardless of type, causing nosebleeds. This is certainly an unsupported claim. Nosebleeds can be caused by inhaling dry air; air purifiers do not make the air dry but remove pollutants and harmful chemicals. Therefore, they do not trigger nosebleeds under normal use.

However, if you run your air purifier for a prolonged period, you increase the chances of drying your air to uncomfortable levels. This might cause or worsen nosebleeds. Very few cases have been reported, though.

What Are The Side Effects Of An Air Purifier?

Air purifiers are meant to create clean air for you to breathe. For example, an air purifier for radon gas helps eliminate radon gas. However, there are some air purifiers that have adverse side effects on the users. Air purifiers that use ozone technology bear the biggest chunk of side effects.

Inhaling ozone produced by such air purifiers can irritate the lungs and cause side effects such as:

• Chest pains
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Painful sinus pressure
• Aggravated asthma
• Irritated allergies
• Difficulty breathing

Take note that these side effects may vary depending on climate, the type of air purifier you use, the location of your air purifier in the room, and if it produces ozone gas.

Final Words

There are several different types of air purifiers; each features a different filtering mechanism to get rid of pollutants from the air. Air purifiers with true HEPA and activated carbon filters can eliminate up to 99% of particles, bacteria, and viruses from the air. This is essential for reducing the risk of sinus infection. Some air purifiers with ozone technology might not effectively clean the air but rather leave you with serious side effects.

If you have read through this article, you understand that an air purifier is a remedy to a clean and healthier quality of the air you breathe. Choosing the right air purifier is essential for maintaining quality air and reducing the risk of respiratory infections such as sinusitis.