Pet Air Purifiers - Keep Your Best Friend and Breathe Easier

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When it comes to pet allergies, man's best friend can sometimes be an enemy. Nonetheless, even though 10 percent of the population is allergic to animals, approximately 10 percent of American households own a dog or cat.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, it appears that 15 to 30 percent of allergy sufferers also experience allergic reactions to dogs and cats, with cat allergies being twice as common as dog allergies. People can also be allergic to animals such as birds, hamsters, rabbits, mice, guinea pigs, and even larger animals such as cows, horses, or goats. Regardless of the species, however, pet allergies do not stem from pet hair. Rather, the constant shedding of fluids and dander from old skin triggers allergic reactions in humans.

This allergy-causing pet dander, as well as urine, saliva, and feces, can cause a host of symptoms such as itchy eyes, runny nose, asthma symptoms, itchy skin, or rash. Cat hair is one of the most notorious allergy-triggers, as people often experience allergic reactions to the cat glycoprotein Fel d 1, a substance that is secreted by a cat's sebaceous glands and is most commonly found in a cat's skin and saliva. Although cats are known to be extremely hygienic, because they constantly lick themselves and deposit saliva onto their fur, this dries into dander and is released when a cat moves or when it is stroked. Exposure to these types of pet allergens can then cause an increased incidence of colds, flu, and asthma symptoms.

Pet allergens also last for several months at a time, and have the ability to stick to walls and furnishings. If a person is separated from the triggering animal for several days to weeks, allergy symptoms will subside only to reoccur when they come into contact with the animal again. However, with this in mind, even in the face of annoying pet allergy symptoms, giving up a pet may not be an option for most. Luckily, pet air purifiers can help rid the home of dried saliva, hair, and pet dander that is caused from the presence of animals, and these even have the added bonus of neutralizing annoying pet odors.

Air purifiers best suited for pet allergies use a combination of air purification technologies such as activated carbon, HEPA filtration, and UV sterilization to help keep the air contaminant-free. Activated carbon is excellent at removing pet odors, HEPA filters are capable of removing up to 99.97 percent of particles such as pet hair, and UV light provides extra protection by sterilizing bacteria and mold. Also, Allergy Furnace Filters added to your central heating or air conditioning system can help filter allergens from the air. These are inexpensive and disposable, can be used up to four hours a day, and are also recommended by leading allergy physicians

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