Allergic reactions range from annoying to deadly. A significant amount of modern medical research has been devoted to not just understanding how the immune system fights off pathogens, but also why it goes awry creating allergic reactions. The most effective way to stave off an allergic reaction is to avoid exposure to allergy triggers altogether, but for many of us, exposure to allergens from pollen, pets and other common sources is unavoidable.
It’s not just you, everyone’s allergies are getting worse, and some of us are starting to get allergies when we didn’t before. Triggers for respiratory allergies are present throughout the year. February through May is when trees spread their pollen. April through September air is full of grass pollen. August through late November is when the weeds are active spreading pollen. In the winter there isn’t much pollen, but we spend more time indoors with mold, dust, and pet dander.
Smell is fundamental to our experience and linked with a variety of emotional responses. Some smells repel us, while some invite us in. They’re a vital part of our world and our survival strategy. Without smell we become more depressed and, conversely, when we’re depressed we can’t smell as well.
Globally, indoor and outdoor air pollution are one of the leading risk factors for death. Sources of outdoor air pollution can include fires, cars, or power plants just to name a few. Indoor air pollution can come from cooking, industrial byproducts, mold, or many other sources.
We recently had a chance to talk with the Unorthodoc, also known as Dr. Patrice Smith, a Washington DC orthodontist who approaches her practice and her whole life in an unorthodox way. Dr. Smith doesn’t just spend all day making smiles, she is also an entrepreneur and nonprofit founder.
Air purifiers have a positive impact on our lives, so some may ask if that impact extends to sleep. Air pollution does not stop when we sleep, so the simple answer is yes, if you want the full benefits of your air purifier it should be running in your bedroom when you sleep.