Every winter, Delhi and many other Indian cities face heavy smog and poor air quality. People start coughing, feeling breathless, and buying air purifiers to protect their lungs. The idea seems simple — if pollution harms your lungs, then cleaning the air should keep them safe. But can an air purifier actually prevent something as serious as pneumonia?
According to Dr. Manav Manchanda, Director & Head of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Asian Hospital, Faridabad, the answer is no. Air purifiers can help improve the quality of air you breathe indoors, but they cannot directly prevent infectious diseases like pneumonia. The link between clean air and fewer lung infections is indirect — better air helps your lungs stay strong, and stronger lungs are less likely to get infected.
Dr. Manchanda explains that pneumonia is an infection that affects the small air sacs in the lungs called alveoli. These sacs are responsible for transferring oxygen into your blood. When pneumonia strikes, the alveoli become inflamed and filled with pus or fluid, making it hard to breathe. The infection can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
While air pollution doesn’t cause pneumonia directly, it does weaken the respiratory system over time. “Polluted air damages the cilia — tiny hair-like structures that line your airways and trap harmful particles,” says Dr. Manchanda. “When these cilia are damaged, your lungs lose an important defence, making you more vulnerable to infections.”
Modern air purifiers are designed to clean indoor air by trapping dust, smoke, allergens, and tiny pollutants like PM2.5 and PM10 particles. Some advanced purifiers can even capture bacteria and viruses. Devices with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are especially effective, as they can remove particles as small as 0.3 microns.
Cleaner indoor air is helpful for many groups of people, including:
Children, whose lungs are still developing
Older adults, who often have weaker immunity
People with asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Breathing cleaner air means the lungs have to work less hard to filter out harmful particles. This can reduce irritation and inflammation, helping the lungs stay healthier. However, air purifiers cannot block infections that spread from person to person, such as when someone coughs or sneezes nearby.
“Air purifiers should be seen as a support, not a shield,” says Dr. Manchanda. “They can’t stop bacteria or viruses from spreading through droplets or contaminated surfaces.”
He adds that even the most advanced air purifier cannot create a sterile room. Pneumonia spreads mainly through infected droplets in the air or by touching contaminated objects. So, while air purifiers can lower your exposure to pollution, they don’t replace preventive steps like vaccination or hygiene.
Dr. Manchanda stresses that vaccination against influenza and pneumococcal bacteria remains the most effective way to protect against pneumonia. Along with that, washing hands regularly, wearing masks during smoggy days, and maintaining good indoor humidity are also important habits.
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Another important point is that air purifiers need regular maintenance. “If filters are not cleaned or replaced on time, they can become breeding grounds for bacteria and mould,” warns Dr. Manchanda. A dirty filter can release harmful particles back into the air, defeating the purpose of using a purifier in the first place.
In heavily polluted cities like Delhi, air purifiers are definitely useful for improving overall lung health. They reduce the amount of harmful particles in the air, making breathing easier and helping those with chronic respiratory problems feel better. But expecting them to completely prevent diseases like pneumonia is unrealistic.
Dr. Manchanda explains that pneumonia prevention depends more on a strong immune system and medical precautions than on devices. Timely vaccinations, balanced nutrition, and quick medical attention when symptoms appear are key to avoiding severe infections.
He concludes, “Think of air purifiers as allies to your lungs — they make your surroundings cleaner and your breathing easier. But real protection comes from your body’s defences and your daily habits.”
In short, air purifiers are valuable tools for improving air quality, especially during winter smog, but they are not magic shields against infections. Keeping your lungs safe requires a combination of clean air, healthy living, and preventive healthcare — not just a device plugged into your wall.
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