It’s common for people to have sensitivities to certain elements: whether that’s a sensitivity to chemical products in cosmetics, an intolerance to dairy or even an allergy to latex.
In fact, there are so many different types of allergies, sensitivities and intolerances that it can become very confusing, very quickly.
What is an allergen?
Anything that can trigger an allergy can be called an allergen.
Allergens can cause irritation and discomfort for people who are sensitive to them, or even bring on a severe allergic reaction.
Whether you’re allergic to peanuts or pollen, if you’re exposed to these substances your body will respond with an inflammatory response as it tries to eliminate the foreign particles. Dry and irritated eyes, blocked and inflamed sinuses, asthma and dermatitis can all be caused by exposure to allergens and the resulting allergic reaction.
In severe cases an allergy can trigger anaphylaxis: a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction caused by your immune system reacting to a substance you’ve been exposed to, causing difficulty breathing. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency.
Airborne allergens are more common than you think
Whether it’s tree or plant pollen, cigarette smoke or soot particles, pet hair, mould spores or even dust itself, airborne allergens are common – and they can even cause problems for those without severe allergies.
Because they’re airborne, there’s no way of preventing them from entering your home, short of sealing your home off entirely – but ventilation is important for heart and lung health and the prevention of mould growth, so this is less than ideal.
There’s also evidence to support that many materials within our home cause airborne particles that can irritate the body, such as insulation materials, cosmetics, deodorants and even paper products.
Generally, these additional airborne particles are referred to as background environmental exposure, and are almost impossible to avoid. In fact, even if you aren’t allergic to any of these substances on their own, your body may still be prone to irritation caused by these airborne particles.
These adjuvant substances, such as diesel exhaust particles from engines and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) present in building materials and cosmetics, can turn allergens into heavy allergens. In turn, this increases their negative health effects such as aggravated symptoms, and even trigger latent, or hidden, allergies.
How to remove airborne allergens at home or work?
There are a number of options available for improving the quality of air in your home, so you can make the right choice for your needs and lifestyle.
At Daikin, we offer a range of air purifiers which can actively filter and remove harmful allergens from your environment, leaving air that’s three times cleaner and healthier.
You can choose from different types of filters, depending on what is most important to you and the people you care about, for low-maintenance, high-performing air filtration. Plus, all our units come with a warranty for extra peace of mind.
By choosing the right unit, it’s possible to prevent the spread of airborne germs, neutralise odours and limit the effects of dust, pollen and pet allergies.
You can achieve fresher, cleaner air with Daikin
When choosing an air filtration or purification system for your home, you’re making a decision that will benefit the health and comfort of your family.
At Daikin, we’ve been developing trusted air purification systems for decades, bringing cleaner, fresher air to homes and businesses across Europe. Our air purifiers blend seamlessly into your home, and are easy to clean and low maintenance, lasting as long as 10 years with proper care.
Explore our range, or contact us for the answers to your questions.