If your whole household is under the weather, you may be wondering: do we have allergies or a virus? It can be hard to tell, especially during flu season. Although colds, flus and allergies can cause similar respiratory symptoms, their symptoms differ in some key ways. For example, airborne allergies and colds don’t generally cause a fever; the flu does. Similarly, the flu generally causes whole-body aches and pains; colds and airborne allergies rarely do. One of the best differentiators between viruses and allergies is the duration of symptoms.

Whether your symptoms are severe, moderate or mild, you should pay attention to how long they last. If they go away within a few days or a week, they were probably caused by a virus. However, if your symptoms seem constant, you may be suffering from allergies. Luckily, there are ways to reduce indoor allergens and find relief. Keep reading to learn how Air Oasis air purifiers can help protect everyone in your home from airborne contaminants. 

Looking for a way to protect your whole family from indoor allergies and sickness? Our high-quality air purifiers can eliminate airborne allergens, viruses and more. Visit Air Oasis online today to take advantage of our seasonal discounts. 

What Causes Airborne Allergies? 

Allergies are all about the immune system. When a person with allergies breathes in an allergen such as pollen, their immune system sees the invader as a threat (even though it generally isn’t). In an attempt to get rid of the allergen, the immune system unleashes a wave of chemicals, including histamines, that can inflame the skin, sinuses and airways.

There is a hereditary component to allergies, so if you suffer from allergies, your children may as well. However, allergies aren’t strictly genetic, so it’s possible to be the only allergy sufferer in a home. Additionally, people don’t generally inherit a particular allergy, rather the disposition to have allergies in general. Children and people with asthma are more likely to have allergies. 

When Is Allergy Season? 

People often refer to spring as “allergy season,” but the truth of the matter is that allergy season can be any time of year or year-round, depending on a person’s particular allergies. For example, if you or your family members are especially sensitive to tree pollen, spring might flare up your allergies. People with grass allergies tend to suffer more during summer, and ragweed allergies tend to get worse during the fall.

You may be thinking that winter brings a reprieve from seasonal allergies since most plants are dead or dormant. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. When the weather’s too cold to open windows and doors for natural ventilation, allergens can accumulate in a home’s indoor air. One of the best ways to prevent indoor allergies year-round, and especially in winter, is to run an air purifier for allergies. 

Top Indoor Allergies 

Any allergen that is in the outdoor air can enter the home through doors, windows and even the HVAC system. However, due to the airtight nature of modern homes, allergens may struggle to escape the home once inside. As a result, they accumulate in the air, HVAC system, carpets, drapes, bedding and more. These are some of the top indoor allergens: 

• Dust particles and dust mites
• Mold spores
• Pollen
• Cockroaches
• Cat and dog dander
• Smoke

Unfortunately, allergens aren’t the only indoor air contaminants that can cause health problems. Indoor air can also circulate viruses, bacteria and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — chemicals released by a variety of household products, including cleaners, personal care products, paint, building materials, cooking appliances and more. Fortunately, a high-quality air purifier can address all of these concerns. 

Need an air purifier for VOCs, allergens, mold, viruses or bacteria? Don’t worry — Air Oasis has got you covered. Our top-of-the-line air purifiers can address all of these airborne contaminants and more. Questions? Give us a call at (806) 373-7788. 

How Can Air Purifiers Help Allergies? 

Whereas allergy medications work to relieve symptoms, air purifiers prevent allergies from occurring by removing them from the air. Air purifiers accomplish this with a number of different technologies, one of the most popular being high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration. To be classified as true HEPA, a filter must be able to theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and any other airborne particles that are at least 0.1 microns wide.

Another effective purification technology for allergies is ionization, a process in which a high-quality air purifier emits ions that interact with unwanted airborne contaminants, rendering them incapable of replication. Air Oasis purifiers use the following two ionization technologies: 

• Bi-Polar® Ionization. This ionization technology (also called cold plasma) uses low-level electricity to create negatively and positively charged ions. The ions cause airborne particles, including dust, mold spores, pet dander and other allergens, to draw together, become heavy and drop from the air. 
• Advanced Hydrated Photocatalytic Oxidation (AHPCOⓇ). Air Oasis researchers developed AHPCOⓇ ionization based on technology previously developed by NASA. AHPCOⓇ uses UV light and a photocatalyst to produce ions, which interact with and deactivate single-cell contaminants in the air. 

Whereas some air purifiers only use one or two purification technologies, the iAdaptAir® HEPA Purifier uses the top five: HEPA filter, carbon filter, UV light, silver ion and Bi-Polar® technologies. That’s why the iAdaptAir® is one of the most effective air purifiers for allergies on the market, as well as one of the smartest. Fully controllable from a smartphone, the iAdaptAir® is sleek, quiet and compact. If you want ozone-free, full-spectrum air purification for the whole family, the iAdaptAir® is your best bet. 

Allergy Solutions for the Whole Family

Chronic allergies can leave anyone feeling miserable, but it’s even worse when the whole family is suffering. Allergy medications can alleviate some allergy symptoms, but they often come with side effects. Cleaning the home can help prevent the accumulation of certain allergens on surfaces, but it doesn’t do much to address airborne allergens. The most effective way to get relief from allergies is to remove the allergens from your indoor air with a superior air purifier. 

At Air Oasis, we take air purification seriously. We’ve been perfecting our air purifiers for over 15 years through rigorous testing and input from thousands of customers. As a result, our air purifiers have been proven highly effective against viruses, bacteria, mold, allergens and VOCs, and are used in universities, research centers and medical facilities around the world. Want to learn more about the science? Visit us online or give us a call at (806) 373-7788 with questions.