air purifiers

[goldcrest]

Hi wonder if anyone can help or advise on the effectiveness or not of air purifiers at this time of the year copd is aggrevated by all the pollen etc in the air and my head feels as if it is full of cotton wool , my husband who is not a copd sufferer also is affected and we were wondering if an air purifier might help so would be grateful if anyone could give me any advice etc thank you

[huggs]

Someone brought this very subject up here not long ago. It set me thinking as I had not considered it before, and when I looked at them in Argos they were pretty pricey. (around £100), give or take. Now if they are definitely going to help then its money well spent. However, I was unsure about how effective they would be and phoned the BLF nurses for advice. They told me that science had not proven one way or another if they were of benefit or not, and they would be inclined not to spend a lot of money on something that is not proven. What they did suggest to me was putting containers of water in rooms where the heating was on and the air was dry. Last summer, if you remember was very hot and humid. I had not been diagnosed with copd at that time, but could hardly breath (I put it down to asthma). I went out and bought a large fan which helped a lot, especially at night. If pollen is aggravating you then you could always get in touch with the BLF nurses and see if they can suggest anything else. As for copd I got the distinct impression it would be a waste of my money. I also bought a tiny little fan which is powered by your computer, and its great. It only cost £5, but when I was on my laptop during a particularly hot day it really did help. You can set it at different angles. Obviously it is not as powerful as an electric fan but is useful. Hope you can get some solution. Take care. hugs xx

[goldcrest in reply to huggs]

thank you we think they may well be a waste of money especially if the research shows they are not proven

[mustcarryon]

Hi goldcrest

I have bronchiectasis. I also have chronic rhinitis, that never leaves me, the slightest thing starts me off. I wouldn't be without my purifiers. They filter any dust/pollen around. I love fans as well, always carry the small hand held ones, however, they only cool the air, they don't get rid of any dust/pollen it just circulates it. A lot of people benefit from dishes of water by heat, that's no good for me. I did try a humidifier, that made me worse. Everybody is different, so good luck, hope you find something that helps you. xx

[goldcrest in reply to mustcarryon]

thank you will research them a bit more before buying one but pleased they help you

[mustcarryon]

Hi again goldcrest. Just thought I'd mention that I have two purifiers. Both are Homedics, one is a small square one, the other is a tower, which I have in my living room. Both are very good.

[goldcrest in reply to mustcarryon]

thank you will have a look at the homemedics one and see what they are like

[CornishBrian]

Most air purifiers do their job...the biggest problem is if you have it one room, once you move out of that room, the full force of the irritants hit you. OK, move it with you but not so good if you need to go out .The fans are a good idea. Humidity is always seen as a bad thing....people think of thunderstorms...but part of the reason our health improves near a river or at the seaside is the humidity of the air. During hot spells, I use a large electric fan in the but I blow it through a damp sheet hanging on a clothes airer. My PR nurse told us to carry these little £1 battery fans around with us, just to give us a blast of clear air when needed. Every little helps and it need not cost a fortune.

[goldcrest in reply to CornishBrian]

yes I am going to get a battery fan next time I am in town we live in a valley in a rural area so get all the dust and pollen blown down into the valley and will certainly think about buying a purifier

[stillmovin]

Hi goldcrest, I bought an air purifier at Argos about six months ago, as I live next to a very busy main road, with lots of lorries and pollution, especially in peak hours and when you have your bedroom windows open in warm weather. It is by Homemedics. I got a lot of advice from others on this forum before buying it. I have bronchiectasis (COPD). I used it a few times in my bedroom, at night and switching off before going to sleep, to put it on again next morning when I was lying in bed. This was during warmer weather. I found it helped me. Not a great deal, but it helped me. I will be using it again when the weather gets warmer and I have to open the bedroom window. It just makes the air seem purer. You may not notice a huge difference depending on your own breathing problems but I found that my early morning breathing got better - while I was using it. I don't have it on overnight because I am not sure of the energy costs but I may try that once or twice this summer. All the best.

[goldcrest in reply to stillmovin]

thank you I certainly need some help we live in a rural village and the air at this timr of year is thick with pollen so go to wake up in morning totally congested and puffy and I have only mild copd anything that will help will be worth buying

[peege in reply to goldcrest]

A friend has a humidifier. He has such a drying heating system in his home that nearly kills me when I stay there in winter months or high summer.

It's a fantastic machine and helps me enormously.

It's egg shaped, sorry I cannot be more helpful but will look it up if you need me to. Peeg

[Offcut]

We have got some of those evil yellow fields near us now which is starting really mess me up I do not think a filter would be able to cope. I have seen how clogged the filters in my car get.

[Maximonkey]

Hi goldcrest, I suffer from asthma and bronchiectasis and I used to use an air purifier, I really cannot say it worked for me so I invested in plants which give out oxygen. The plants I have are Spider plant, Boston Fern and Spathiphyllum. They are marvellous, I have them in my living room, bathroom and bedroom. I spent about £20 originally, however, the spider plants are so easy to germinate new plants from that I now have 6 plants and I give them to all my family to keep their homes fresh too. Good Luck Maximonkey

[goldcrest]

thank you for all your advice and helpful comments will let you all know what we decide

[FarmerD]

Hello Goldcrest,there are so many different things that can affect our breathing.I have severe emphysema and simple rain has me in trouble,thought I would never get home when I got caught in quite light shower on my walk today.It still shocks me that I can only walk three paces before having to stop to catch my breath when it,s wet.Yet I can walk in snow with far less problem,no logic to it.So I suppose it,s what ever is most suitable to you,maybe a hand held fan would be a cheaper alternative.Good luck with your quest for a healthier life.D.