Dealing With Poor Air Quality And Allergies? Here's A Few Tips.
Air filters are a must if you live with a lot of allergies. But during the last couple of weeks with so much pollution caused by forest fire smoke coming into our area they pretty much prove invaluable.
They dramatically improve your indoor air quality so if you have any lung issues or irritation caused by the smoke like my household does (think irritated eyes, throat, headaches, skin and breathing issues) it bring some much appreciated relief.
But air filters aren't just really good at removing smoke from the air they can also remove dust, allergens, dust mites, pet dander, mold, germs and viruses. They come in all different sizes and price points but just make sure to get a non ionizing air purifier especially if you have asthma. (They are also sometimes called ozone purifiers and they are known to cause irritation in the lungs which is the last thing you need when your trying to make the air cleaner.)
And as for all those masks you have now accumulated over the last few months. Well, those can come in handy too, since they can also help protect you from the harmful effects of the smoke.
In the area where we live we were actually listed as 10+ on our Air Quality Index for many days. This rating is the highest danger rating we have in B.C.. On the weekend it finally fell down to 3 and hopefully it will continue to stay in the lower numbers.
So after experiencing all this I thought it might be a good idea to review some important things to remember when the air outside is particularly bad.
- When driving close your windows and use the recirculate setting to avoid bringing in the outside air.
- Avoid being outside as much as you possibly can (that also means less time outside for your pets too). Wear a mask if possible and avoid any and all exercise outdoors.
- Close all your windows and doors and anything else open to the outdoor like fireplace dampers.
- If you have an air purifier this is the perfect time to use it.
We of course have air filters in our house, something I'm very thankful for when smoke and pollution levels rise. All that bad air can leave you feeling pretty terrible and if you suffer from any lung issues it can be also be quiet dangerous.
During this time too I generally have to make full use of my allergy eye drops, extra allergy pills, and I increase my Vitamin C intake and antioxidants (matcha & green tea are easy to add to my day) to get some relief. It also helps to keep well hydrated and I try to remember to lather on the lotion to provide a protect layer for my super sensitive skin.
Basically I try to give my body as much help as I can to reduce the impact all that pollution has on it.
If your interested in learning more about Air Purifiers here are a few links below to check out.
Personally I prefer washable filters as to having to continually replace them. It's also a good idea to find out prices for replacement part like filters before you buy.
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