New European Study Finds that HEPA Filters May Improve the Heart Health of the Elderly

Indoor air pollution sources that release particulates or gases into the air are the primary causes of indoor air quality problems in homes, and inadequate ventilation can also increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute indoor particulate emissions. In addition, high humidity and temperature levels can actually increase concentrations of some pollutants.

The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine has also noted that long-term ambient concentrations of inhalable particles less than 10 microns in size, as well as other pollutants such as ozone and sulfates, were responsible for thousands of deaths of non-smokers over the course of 15 years.

As such, a recent study was conducted by researchers at the Institute of Public Health in Copenhagen that showed how HEPA filters were able to improve the blood vessel function of elderly test subjects in a short period of time. These researchers used tests to asses microvascular function and inflammation in elderly couples aged 60 to 75 years after breathing in non-filtered air and after breathing in HEPA-filtered air for 48 hours.

Microvascular function involves the tiny blood vessels linking the arteries and veins and their ability to relax and dilate in response to the demands of blood and oxygen. Dr. Steffan Loft, the above study's lead author, explained that the study was an important one because a sign of both coronary heart disease and artherosclerosis is impaired microvascular function. On average, the study found that microvascular function of the elderly test subjects improved by over 8 percent after they had spent two days breathing filtered air, and the research team concluded the following: "It may ... be speculated that further improvement may occur after prolonged intervention by 6 months to 1 year, and that this could result in further reduction in cardiovascular risk in this healthy, elderly age group."

With this in mind, using a HEPA air purifier in your home is one of the easiest ways to purify particulates in the air. HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air, and it must be capable of removing at least 99.97 percent of airborne particulates 0.3 microns or larger. Because particles of this size are the most difficult to filter, they are considered the most penetrating particle size.

Because of its ability to remove some of the smallest airborne pollutants, HEPA is one of the most common air purification methods used in air purifiers today, and there are many HEPA air systems on the market to suit every budget. Also, since the numbers of asthma and allergy sufferers are steadily increasing, HEPA air purifiers are becoming quite prevalent and are worthwhile investments. Here are some general tips on how to find a high-quality and efficient HEPA air purifier:

- Buy Only Air Purifiers With "True" HEPA Filters. Be wary of air purifiers with "HEPA-like" filters. True HEPA filters must pass stringent tests to be considered HEPA worthy, and these will bear serial numbers if they are able to trap at least 99.97 percent of particulates as small as 0.3 microns.

- Warm-Rolling Increases Efficiency. Look for air purifiers with warm-rolled HEPA filters. If a HEPA filter is not warm-rolled and pleated prior to installation, it can crack and lose its effectiveness. One recommended model is the Airpura H600 air purifier.

- The More HEPA, the Better. The size of the HEPA filter in an air purifier is important, as the larger the amount of HEPA, the more capable it is of trapping airborne contaminants. Also, find HEPA filters with spacers which maximize the filter’s surface area.