How Air Quality Can Impact Your Sleep Quality

Good sleep is necessary for good health. And yet, the quality of our sleep is often compromised by factors that we can control. Things like excessive screen use before bed, eating late, and caffeine consumption can damage the quality of the sleep we get. 

Air quality is one of those sneaky factors that you might not think about, but it can have a big impact on your sleep and your overall health. In fact, we’ve heard from so many customers that they immediately got better sleep after using their air purifier for the first time. 

Let’s talk about why air quality and sleep quality are so linked and what can be done to decrease the likelihood of feeling less than your best in the morning.

How Air Quality and Sleep Quality Are Linked 

Imagine getting a solid eight hours of sleep, only to wake up feeling groggy and unrested. It’s a feeling most of us have experienced. 

Because the air around us is invisible, it’s not always something we consider as being dirty. But poor air quality can be a very real reason that our sleep isn’t as restful as it should be. The air we breathe directly affects our respiratory system, and when compromised, it can lead to breathing difficulties, snoring, and even sleep apnea. 

These disruptions in breathing patterns can result in frequent waking up during the night and prevent us from achieving the deep, restorative sleep our bodies need to feel fully rested in the morning.

Indoor Air Quality Issues Exist in Every Household

Indoor air quality issues can come from many different sources. They’re also found in every household. Common issues include dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by household products. Even pollen that’s tracked inside on clothing, shoes, and pets can have a big impact indoors.

Inadequate ventilation can increase the concentration of these pollutants and contribute to a less-than-ideal sleep environment. That’s right, newer homes can suffer from worse air quality because of the construction practices that seal them up better against the elements. These factors not only compromise respiratory health but can also lead to chronic conditions such as allergies and asthma, further impacting the quality of sleep. If you’ve ever struggled with good quality sleep during the spring or fall allergy season, you know exactly what we’re talking about unfortunately.

The Immediate Health Impacts From Poor Air and Poor Sleep Quality

Have you ever woken up with a sinus headache to start the day? Poor air quality is probably the reason. 

At that point, it isn’t the quantity but the quality of sleep that’s leading to morning difficulties. 

If the air you breathe is contaminated by pollutants, your body may not fully benefit from the restorative processes that occur during the night. Sinus headaches, congestion, and irritated throat are common morning-after complaints for people living in spaces with less than desirable air quality.

The Longer Term Health Issues Linked to Poor Air and Poor Sleep Quality

The consequences of inhaling poor-quality air extend beyond morning discomfort. 

Chronic exposure to pollutants can lead to a range of health issues, including respiratory infections, aggravated asthma symptoms, and even long-term cardiovascular problems. 

Poor air quality can also elevate stress levels and hinder the body's ability to repair and regenerate during sleep, ultimately impacting overall health and longevity.

During sleep, the body undergoes essential processes such as tissue repair, memory consolidation, and the release of growth hormones.

A good night's sleep is linked to improved cognitive function, emotional well-being, and a strengthened immune system. On the other hand, consistent sleep deprivation or poor sleep quality has been associated with increased risk of chronic conditions, weight gain, and mental health disorders. Just ask any sleep-deprived new parent, good quality, uninterrupted sleep matters so much. 

The Role of Air Purifiers in Ensuring Better Sleep Quality

Air purifiers are the unsung heroes in the quest for better sleep. HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are designed to capture particles as small as 0.3 microns, effectively removing common indoor pollutants like pollen, cooking smoke, bacteria, mold, viruses, pet dander, dust mites, and VOCs. 

By capturing these particles with their high efficiency filters and eliminating airborne allergens and pollutants from the air, these purifiers create a cleaner and healthier sleep environment. This not only promotes better respiratory health but also ensures that the body can fully benefit from the restorative power of deeper sleep.

HEPA air purifiers work by drawing in air and passing it through a multi-layered filter, trapping fine particles that would otherwise reach our respiratory systems.

How to Find the Right Air Purifier for your Home

Ideally, you’ll want the air to fully change in your space every 12.5 minutes according to the AHAM recommended air exchange rate of 4.8 times an hour. Finding the right sized air purifier for your space will result in a noticeable improvement in indoor air quality. And that will mean a much better sleep environment.

Other things to look for when shopping for an air purifier include if it will have any LED lights that disrupt your sleep by staying on all night — the Mod+ Air Purifier for Large Rooms LED light completely turns off after setting your desired noise and cleaning level, so you can sleep without any disruptive lights in your room. 

We get that air purifiers in general can be confusing. And with air being invisible, it’s hard to know just how much it might be impacting your health until you have the before and after comparison of putting an air purifier in your home. 

We’re confident you’ll breathe an immediate difference. And if you’re one to wake up with sinus headaches, we think those might be a thing of the past for you as well.