My friend Vidal had to be rushed to the emergency because of an inability to BREATHE. The doctor said that he had a virus in his lungs. His regular doctor had told him that he had ‘exercise induced asthma.’ Neither one could explain why it occurred only at his home. Was it allergies? Food allergies? Dust mites? Pet dander? Environmental pollution? All of the above? On top of a virus in the lungs and exercise induced asthma? The medicine given at the emergency room worked only temporarily and the inhaler barely helped at all. Daily cleaning of the house was not enough.
FINALLY, at the recommendation of a friend, he found an air filter that solved the problem. Not just any air filter, because he already had three air filters in his house and still had problem breathing. This air filter was different. ORECK air filters clean the air significantly better than their competitors. The difference was immediate. He was able to breathe in his own home. Even I could ‘breathe’ the difference. It wasn’t a smell or lack of a smell, it was actually easier to breathe with this filter on. HEPA filters have been the best that any of us could get to clear air but ORECK has a better permanent filter called the Truman Cell.**
Last week, I walked out of the house and promptly started coughing and clearing my throat. WHY? Because of smoke that came to Seattle from wild fires east of the mountains. These terrible fires that were destroying forestry and homes on the other side of the mountains brought carcinogenic smoke to Seattle. Fog today? No, just smoke hiding the sun. It has been stated that indoor air quality is 5 times worse than outdoor air quality. Is that still true? Or is it now safer to breathe inside air rather than outside air? Do we have a choice?
**HEPA filters capture 99.97% of particles from the air passing through the filter, preventing them from moving through to the other side. HEPA filters will eventually capture so many particles (depending on usage and environment) that their efficiency is compromised — and they will have to be replaced. Permanent filters, also known as electrostatic precipitators (or EP filters), are composed of a series metal plates and wires. Particles from the air are positively charged as they enter the cell wires and then are attracted to negatively charged plates (much like a magnet) where they stick until cleaned off. Whatever the type of air purifier and filter used, note that all the air in a room may not pass through the filter.