Less Hospital Visits for Child With Asthma--REALLY!
Written: Aug 25 '00 (Updated Aug 25 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Does what it says, cleaner air to breathe
Cons: Pricy
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| Najusa's Full Review: Honeywell Enviracaire 13520 Air Purifier |
I bought this product when my 4 1/2-year-old child who was undergoing chemotherapy developed asthma about one year into treatment.
Having my baby wake up in the middle of the night struggling to breathe and having to rush him to the hospital was a terrifying ordeal, as anyone who has cared for or been an asthma sufferer knows.
We decided to take a proactive, preventative approach to controlling his asthma. My son was on so many other medications that were crucial and some even experimental that I felt it necessary to minimize any new medications he might need (not knowing the possible risks of drug interactions) as long as it did not adversely affect his health.
Until I could replace the carpet in his bedroom, I bought this model air cleaner. We bought it at the military base exchange for around $165. A lot of money to be sure, but when it's your child's health, you do what you need to do!
I loved that this unit was so easy to set up. Within 3 minutes of taking it out of the box, we had it plugged in, turned on and were sitting around reading the literature that came with it. The unit is fairly small. It measures 16 inches in diameter and 14 1/2 inches from top to bottom. It has a nice rounded design with no sharp edges which I thought important for use in a child's room or living area.
There is a handle for convenient carrying of the unit from room to room, or even house to house if you must visit someone and desire to have cleaner air while you are there. This feature made it much easier for us to carry the unit from Justin's bedroom, where it stayed turned on during the night next to his bed while he slept, and then to the living room, where he played during the day.
There is a convenient adjustable knob about one inch from the base of the unit where you can select from three different levels. I found I would usually leave it on the highest level for about the first hour it was running in a room, and then drop it down to level two after that.
Other than the cleaner air quality, there were two other side benefits that I enjoy about this machine. One is the constant sound it makes. It has a definite white-noise type effect, helping to filter outside noises and seemed to help Justin sleep better and longer. The other aspect I liked it that it cools the air somewhat and has a fan effect. This is a nice advantage in the summer, but you may have to adjust your heat in the winter, as the rooms with the air cleaner in them will be a little cooler than the rest of the house.
We have had this unit for over 3 years now and it works perfectly still. I have replaced the HEPA filter a few times, a process which is incredibly simple.
Health benefits? Yes, I definitely saw a HUGE decline in breathing problems with my son. The air even smelled cleaner, although I had not noticed any "bad" odors previously. Justin went to the hospital much less after we bought this air cleaner, and he was able to use his asthma medications only periodically instead of constantly. I know it has been possible for many insurance companies to reimburse the patient for the purchase of one of these units if a physician wrote a prescription for them. Our military insurance would not cover the cost, however the doctors did recommend that we get one if we could afford it.
I would certainly recommend this to any one who has breathing problems. Personally, I think it is beneficial even if you don't. Our health is important; sometimes we don't realize just how much until it is in jeopardy, but I feel it is important to take preventative steps to safeguard our health. I think this air cleaner does that and I highly recommend it.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Najusa
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Member: Tammy H
Location: Central Texas
Reviews written: 78
Trusted by: 84 members
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