Spring and Allergies – How Can You Stay Comfortable Indoors?
Allergy season is about to begin. Many people who have sought our help have told us how exhausting it is to deal with watery eyes, a constant runny nose, and other discomforts associated with the awakening of nature. Here are a few tips based on my experience working with people who have allergies.
What do you see when you think of spring? Is it sunshine, being outdoors, a warm breeze, and a general sense of happiness? Or is it watery eyes, sneezing, and constant worry about pollen and the weather? If the second example sounds familiar to you, then you’re one of millions who think spring can also be a season of suffering. Does it have to be that way?
I’ll give you some advice on how to reduce these discomforts.
Spring is the time when plants begin to sprout. Large amounts of pollen are in the air, carried to us by the wind from other parts of Europe and Russia.
Sometimes it’s better for someone with allergies to stay indoors rather than go outside. We can’t eliminate pollen from the outdoor environment, but we can create a comfortable indoor environment for people with allergies. The best results come from an air purifier that’s properly selected based on the size of the room. It’s also a good idea to use air purifiers in the rooms where you spend the most time (the living room and bedroom).
Spring cleaning at home.
Spring cleaning is usually more than just tidying up. During the cleaning process, a lot of pollutants are released into the indoor air, where they remain for a long time (dust, mold, VOCs, etc.). Many people also burn trash and other items—including, of course, our neighbors and their neighbors. This, however, means that combustion byproducts are released into the air. Open windows and ventilation bring these pollutants into our homes. Many cleaning products are used in homes, releasing volatile organic compounds into the air that are known to affect our health. This is a tough time for people with allergies and asthma, but from a health perspective, it affects us all—children and older adults most severely. At the same time, we also know that a cleaner environment is essential for our long-term good health.
Dimensions of airborne particles:
There are particles floating in the air
These particles range from those that are fairly easy to see—such as smoke and dust particles—to particles that are so tiny that they are microscopic and completely invisible to the human eye. Enter microns. Microns, which are measured in millions, are the unit used to measure such particles. To illustrate the size of a micron—or of particles that may be smaller than a micron—consider that the human eye cannot visually perceive anything smaller than 10 microns. Here is a simple diagram to help create a better visual image:
Sand: 100–10 ,000 microns
Pollen: 3–40 microns
Mold: 3–12 microns
Bacteria, viruses: 0 .1–60 microns
Exhaust gas particles: 1–150 microns
If you want to keep your home or office allergy-free, we recommend a Coway air purifier. The Coway Storm, Coway Airmega, and Coway AquaFlow are designed for larger rooms. For smaller rooms, choose the Coway Classic model.
Many people have asked whether rooms need to have separate air purifiers; the correct answer is yes. An air purifier works best in the room where it is located.
Pro Air OÜ offers Coway, LightAir, and Winix air purifiers, which are designed for use at home and in the office. You can either rent the devices—which is what most companies do—or purchase them for home use, which is what most individuals do.
The best choice for you depends on many factors. To ensure you make the right choice, we recommend consulting with us. That way, you can be sure you’ve made the right decision and that your investment will pay off. Our devices are certified by various asthma and allergy associations. Coway models have been certified by the Nordic Asthma and Allergy Association, which means the devices have met the highest standards.
Jaanus Liba
Pro Air OÜ
Product Specialist and Consultant
Breathe Healthy, Live Healthy
