Strange as it may sound, indoor air quality is posing a serious threat to our health. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have issued a warning proclaiming that indoor air quality is America's biggest environmental problem. It is startling to know that indoor air is actually 2 to 10 times more polluted than outside air. A direct consequence has been the steady increase in the number of asthma and hay fever cases for the past few years.

Are indoor air purifiers a cure for asthma?

No, they are not. Truth is, there is no absolute cure for asthma. There are medications though but they are largely to prevent asthmatic symptoms to recur. These medications also have long term side effects. There is a direct link between asthmatic problems and the air we breathe. The more the pollutants present in air, the higher the chances of asthmatic attacks. Air purifiers have a role to play here. Since they are able to purify air to a large extent, the air we breathe is clean and someone suffering from asthma have a better chance to avoid asthmatic attacks.

Are ionic air purifiers better than HEPA purifiers?

If we are strictly talking about the purifying abilities of both the purifiers, then HEPA air purifiers are much superior to ionic air purifiers. HEPA purifiers are designed to capture 99.97 percent of impurities present in air which are above 0.3 microns in size. Ionic purifiers can in no way match such capabilities.

However ionic purifiers do not produce as much sound as HEPA purifiers do. The technology dictates that ionic purifiers are calmer. In a family where there are no members who suffer from severe respiratory problems an ionic purifier is good enough.

What factors should guide you while buying an air purifier?

Before buying an air purifier there are a few things that one should consider. First of all, you should know the dimensions of your room better. The size of the room will dictate what capacity air purifier you will require.

Next you need to know what kind of air purifier you will require. If there is someone with severe respiratory problems one should opt for a HEPA air purifier. Otherwise an ionic air purifier should do.

There are some who claim that air purifiers do more harm than good as the ionic purifiers release ozone into the air. There are also claims that ionic purifiers are ineffective when it comes to cleaning the air.

The other things you need to consider are warranty offered, availability of spare pars, etc.