The Soot That Nearly Choked Me
For four years, I lived in an apartment on 58th street in Manhattan. My place was basically on the Queensborough Bridge, right where cars enter and exit. As you can imagine, it was pretty noisy. But that was only the most obvious problem – the real issue was the pollution.
I turned my A/C to the “fan” setting each night to cover up the noise and kept my double windows closed at all times. Leaving them open meant that within a day, the glass, windowsill, and everything around it would be covered in thick, black soot. This wasn’t your average household dust – it was straight-up pollution from the constant flow of motors outside.
Looking back, I should have realized that I was actually inhaling all that gunk. But at the time, I just saw it as an annoying cleaning hassle. Little did I know, it was slowly wreaking havoc on my health.
A Persistent Cough That Wouldn’t Quit
I’ve always been one of those people who’s kind of always coughing. It’s not terrible, and it may even be more of a tic than an actual biological need, but I do tend to cough more than the average person. I’ve always had slight allergies, so I just wrote it off as a symptom, popped an allergy pill, and figured it was helping.
Boy, was I wrong. The coughing got so much worse living in that apartment. I was coughing constantly – all day, all the time. When I would lie down for bed, that’s when it got even worse. I’d cough for about 10 minutes before finally falling asleep. I also found myself clearing my throat a lot – it would take a couple tries before it actually felt clear.
I’d apologize to the people I worked with, saying things like, “sorry – I have no idea what’s wrong with my throat today.” It was embarrassing, and it started to really get me down. I had no idea what was causing it.
A Breath of Fresh Air (Literally)
One afternoon, my mom was over at my place helping me clean and rearrange my room. As we were moving things around, she suddenly zeroed in on the problem.
“It’s this pollution,” she said. “I don’t know how anyone could breathe in a place with this much dust.”
She decided to buy me an air purifier that day, and let me tell you – it was life-changing. You just plug it in, turn it on, and let it run. I’d leave it on even when I went to work or out for the night so it could constantly be cleaning the air in my room.
The results were astounding. My cough got so much better. I actually felt like I could breathe again, and I wasn’t having a coughing attack every night when I would lie down to go to bed. It was amazing.
Why You Need an Air Purifier Too
I’ve since moved down a couple streets, so I’m no longer living on such a busy intersection. But I still have an air purifier in my apartment to help keep my health in check. If you’re wondering whether or not you should invest in one, here are some reasons you may want to:
Pollution Affects Your Health
Like me, you may forget that pollution really does affect your health. Clifford Bassett, M.D., founder and medical director of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York, explains that “Proximity to an urban highway can increase the risk of less optimally controlled respiratory symptoms.” In other words, if there are a million cars outside your window, an air purifier in your house will help you breathe easier.
Allergens Sneak In
Pollution isn’t the only thing making its way in through your windows. Pollen and other allergens might be sneaking in there as well. An air purifier can help capture these irritants before you inhale them.
Filters Last Longer Than You Think
Air filters last a decent amount of time, so you won’t need to change yours as frequently as you may think, given all the stuff it’s sucking up. Plus, it’s easy to find and purchase new filters online – look for ones that have a HEPA rating; they capture more than 99 percent of the particulates that can irritate your respiratory system. Most machines have a light that comes on to let you know when it’s time to replace the old filter.
You May Not Even Notice the Problem
It’s possible that you’re so used to the coughing and throat clearing that you don’t notice how it’s affecting your respiratory system. An air purifier can make a big difference, even if you think your symptoms are no big deal.
Pets Contribute to Poor Air Quality
Smoke and Fumes Need Filtering Too
There’s no question about it – your lungs are being affected by smoke and fumes. While an air purifier won’t be able to prevent you from inhaling the smoke altogether, it can help make the air cleaner. “They’re very effective in removing indoor airborne pollutants, namely tobacco, by trapping them on the filter materials,” says Bassett.
The Bottom Line
If you’re able to get an air purifier, there’s really no downside to it. “Indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental health risks as per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” explains Bassett. “So you should strive to eliminate or reduce sources of pollutants in your home.”
And if you’re not ready to make the investment just yet, Bassett also recommends certain plants that can help clean your home, such as peace lily, bamboo palm, and English ivy.
Personally, I can’t imagine living without my air purifier now. It’s made such a huge difference in my quality of life. I no longer have that persistent cough, and I feel like I can actually breathe freely in my own home.
If you’re in a similar situation to what I was in – living near a busy road or highway, or dealing with persistent respiratory issues – I’d highly recommend looking into getting an air purifier for your home. Your lungs will thank you. And who knows, it might just change your life like it did mine.
