COPD also known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a progressive lung disease. People affected by COPD have the airways to the lungs partly blocked. These airways are tiny tubes which are responsible for circulating air in and out of lungs. Any kind of blockage in those airways makes breathing very painful. The blockage can even worsen over a period of time.
Chronic bronchitis and Emphysema often occur together and fall under the COPD category. Despite being the fourth leading cause of death in USA, people don't even realize they suffer from it. They attribute their breathlessness to various factors like being around smokers, dust, etc. COPD does affect smokers but general awareness about it is low and people don't realize that even non-smokers can get afflicted by it.
COPD can be caused by genetic influence, second-hand smoke, a history of cold and respiratory infections in childhood or even pollutants in the air.
How will an air-purifier help?
Well an air-purifier cannot cure people affected by COPD. Once you are affected by COPD all an air-purifier do is make your life easier and better.
How?
By filtering out triggers like pollutants or second -hand smoke. The technology for filters has advanced over the years. You have sophisticated air filters in the market which cater specifically to COPD affected people. The filters work by filtering particles as tiny as.03 microns and even.01 microns. The boast of efficiency as high as 99.7% which can be very helpful. Air purifiers in areas where there is too much smoke or pollutants like dust, pollen can help head off COPD before the onset itself.
When it comes to children and babies air-filters play a major role too. The development of a baby is in different stages and the lungs are the last organs to develop. If a baby is exposed to smoke or pollutants then lungs airways get doomed right from the start. It would rob the kid of a healthy and fun-filled childhood. So it is always recommended that a kid gets a chance to breathe clean air if it's a known fact that they would be around smoke or pollutants like dust particles.