Sleep is a hot commodity, especially in the wake of kids, work, and busy schedules. Not only does it feel good to get a good night’s sleep, there are proven benefits for your body as well. 

The National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to eight hours of deep sleep per night, and for good reason! Quality sleep helps ward off long-term health issues and affects aspects of daily well-being such as mood, immune system strength, and productivity. 

Still, lack of sleep is all too common.

For many, especially allergy and asthma sufferers, quality sleep is hard to get on a regular basis.

Want to know a secret many use for better sleep? Air purifiers!  

There is a direct correlation between sleep disruption and polluted air. Investing in an air purifier may be a clear answer to improving your nighttime rest. 

This article will explore the noteworthy impact of air purifiers on sleep quality. 

Understanding the Link Between Air Quality and Sleep

Indoor air pollutants play a role in sleep disruption. Air pollution causes upper airway irritation, congestion, and swelling—symptoms that are proven to disrupt quality sleep. 

Certain levels of air pollutants can also play a role in affecting areas of the central nervous system and brain that affect breathing patterns and sleep. 

Prolonged exposure to dirty air can also cause the onset of common sleep-related issues such as snoring and sleep apnea.

Allergy symptoms remain one of the main culprits of a poor night's sleep. 

20% to 50% of Americans exhibit allergy symptoms that negatively affect sleep quality. Symptoms are primarily triggered by pollution from outdoor air, household dust, and particles released by cleaning and cooking. 

When you are sleeping, tiny particles causing allergies and irritation are floating around your bedroom as you inhale them throughout the night. 

If you breathe in something you are allergic to, the irritant impacts your nasal passage resulting in coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and congestion. The worse your symptoms, the lower the quality of your sleep.

How Air Purifiers Improve Sleep Quality

Extended exposure to air pollutants over time can cause irritation leading to disrupted sleep. 

As a result, no matter how many hours of beauty rest you get each night, you may never feel fully rested.

Running an air purifier with a HEPA filter removes up to 99.7% of air particles, effectively addressing the culprit of airborne pollutants and allergens in your home.

To optimize your sleep quality, it is important to reduce allergens and irritants that could trigger sleep-related conditions. 

The most common sleep-disrupting irritants are dust mites, mold, pet dander, and pollen. Whether you are an allergy sufferer or not, chances are you have at least one of these in your bedroom that you are breathing in while sleeping.

Removing airborne irritants is undoubtedly the key to deep sleep. 

To achieve this, you need an air purifier powerful enough to effectively circulate clean air throughout your bedroom yet quiet enough to aid in your rest. 

With a quality air purifier, you can purify the air in your home to achieve a clean and calming sleep environment. Air quality improvements have far-reaching benefits: better sleep equals better health.

Benefits of Using Air Purifiers for Sleep

There are a number of benefits to using an air purifier to improve the quality and length of your nighttime sleep. 

Enhanced Breathing 

Air purifiers remove pollutants from the air, such as pet dander, dust, pollen, smoke, and other allergens, resulting in enhanced breathing. Clearing the airways provides a cleaner and fresher environment for uninterrupted breathing and better sleep. 

Air purifiers specifically enhanced with HEPA filters work to capture up to 99.7% of the tiniest particles, such as bacteria, mold spores, and viruses. Because air purifiers cut down on virus particles carried through the air, they effectively reduce the spread of airborne illnesses resulting in better health and, therefore, greater quality sleep.

Allergy Relief 

Using an air purifier can reduce allergy and asthma symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, and runny nose. Minimizing allergens that cause discomfort and nighttime symptoms will help you breathe easier and sleep better.

Reduced Snoring 

Several factors, including allergies, sinus problems, and irritants in the air, cause snoring. Air purifiers improve the air quality in your home by maximizing circulation and removing unwanted air pollutants from your indoor air. This makes breathing easier, reducing snoring and leading to more restful sleep.

Odor Elimination 

Odors from pets, indoor smoking, cooking, and more can create unpleasant smells that disrupt sleep. Air purifiers are an effective solution to neutralize unwanted odors, utilizing a carbon filter to trap molecules that cause unpleasant smells. Removal of odors allows you to breathe easier and enjoy undisrupted sleep.

Peaceful Atmosphere

When your goal is a better night’s sleep, many people overlook the calming benefits of an air purifier. Most air purifiers are designed to operate quietly, allowing you to breathe cleaner air without disturbance all night long. The result? A soothing environment and a peaceful, refreshing night’s sleep.

Choosing the Right Air Purifier for Better Sleep

In selecting the best air purifier for your sleep needs, it is essential to consider the size of your bedroom, the type of filter, and the unit's noise when in operation. Appropriately considering these factors will most effectively aid in sleep-related benefits, including improved sleep efficiency, less time awake, and an overall healthier immune system.

Sleep-optimal air purifiers should contain both HEPA filters and activated carbon filters. These sleep-focused filters will capture 99.99% of airborne contaminants down to 0.1 microns, including particles such as dust, mold, allergens, bacteria, aerosolized viruses, and more.

The effectiveness of any air purifier for any use is heavily determined by the unit's size and intended coverage area. It is important to measure your bedroom's dimensions to match your purifier to the coverage capabilities of the air purifier you purchase.

Perhaps most importantly, factor in the noise levels of the air purifier you select for maximum sleep-related benefits. A unit with quiet operation will ensure a quality night’s sleep by creating a peaceful and calming environment.

Air Purifiers and Your Sleep Routine

Once you have determined the appropriate size based on your bedroom dimensions, it is important to intentionally position your air purifier for optimal performance. Place the air purifier with a few feet of clear space around the top and all four sides while ensuring the unit is not touching curtains, furniture, or bedding.

Any air purifier, whether used with the intention of improving sleep or not, is only as good as the maintenance it receives. Every air purifier will have slightly different maintenance and filter replacement requirements. 

The closer you follow the manufacturer's guidelines, the more efficiently the unit will operate. In general, HEPA and carbon filters will need to be changed every six to twelve months, while washable filters require cleaning every ten days. 

Maintaining your unit will produce the most sustained, clean air and best support the quality of your sleep.

Air purifiers are not the only way to improve your sleep—though we believe they are the best way! Other sleep-enhancing practices include temperature control, creating a dark sleep environment, using white noise, limiting blue light before bed, and maintaining a consistent daily bedtime and wake time.

While it is not the only way to get better shut-eye, running an air purifier in your bedroom at night is proven to have numerous benefits for your sleep and overall health. 

Air purifiers may be the missing piece to helping you breathe easier and sleep better at night. 

By cleaning the air and reducing allergens and pollutants, you are delivered a stronger immune system and improved respiratory health—and not to mention the overwhelming benefits of increasing sleep length and quality! 

If you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or feeling rested and energetic, consider purchasing an Air Oasis iAdaptAir® purifier. 

You may be on your way to your best night’s sleep… ever!