In the United States, over 67% of households have a family pet that they adore. These stats are quite surprising since as many as 3 in every 10 American citizens suffer from pet allergies. It shows just how many of us are willing to put ourselves through those seemingly never-ending bouts of sneezing and runny nose to keep our precious furbabies close.
Although the best way of not suffering from these allergies is to avoid being near pets, people choose other ways of handling it. Some opt for investing in the best air purifiers for pets, while others take regular anti-allergy medicines.
But, do air purifiers work for pet allergies? Let’s find out!
What You Should Know About Pet Allergies
Before learning about how purifiers can help, we first need to determine what causes these allergies.
Do you recall learning about the immune system in biology class? Well, it is this body system that results in you sneezing, coughing, and having a runny nose. People who are allergic to pets have an overly-sensitive immune system that ‘overreacts’ when you breathe in pet hair or dander. This overreaction causes your allergies to be triggered, and the rest is history.
Although pet hair can cause allergic reactions, it is the dander you should be worried about.
Pet Dander
It is a common misunderstanding that pet hair and dander are the same things. In reality, danders are microscopic skin flakes and other particles that fall off your pet and get suspended in the air. Dander may even include traces of your dog’s feces, urine, and saliva! Disgusting to think you’re breathing it all in, right?
How to Stop your Allergies from Getting Triggered
There are a few ways of preventing your allergies from flaming up. While people may suggest giving your pet for adoption, we as dog owners ourselves, realize this is near impossible to do. So instead, let’s focus on these options:
Allergy Shots or Medication
Ouch.
As painful as these may sound, we have to consider them as a viable option. These shots and medication won’t fix your allergies, though. They are just a temporary means of lessening the reaction and providing some relief.
The worst part is that your body’s tolerance levels will quickly rise, so you will end up needing higher and higher doses of medication each time. It will temper with your productivity and other daily activities.
Air Purifiers
The better of the two options is investing in an air purifier. It is relatively inexpensive, can be set up quickly, and offers you clean and fresh air free from most pet dander.
People always wonder if these purifiers do much good. And the fact is that they are the ideal devices to eliminate any unwanted particles from your air. While removing the dander, your purifier will also get rid of:
- Bacteria and fungi
- Mold
- Dust and dust mites
- Smoke and harmful chemical strains
Breathe in Deep
Installing an air purifier will offer not just you but even your pet better air quality. By getting rid of all the germs and other pesky substances, you can easily play around with your pet without your allergies getting in the way!
Additional Reading
