Holistic Health
A humidifier can boost health when used properly
Ideal indoor moisture levels can offer several benefits, but using humidifiers may also involve some risks
Fretting about indoor humidity, or the amount of water in the air, may seem a trivial concern that would perhaps make for viral social media posts on the perfect hairstyle but shouldn’ t take up the brain space of health-conscious people.
If that’ s your attitude, you may want to think twice as indoor moisture levels can have profound effects on your breathing, skin, and sleep.
“ When the air is dry, your respiratory system just isn’ t happy,” said Dr Sobia Farooq, a pulmonologist at the Cleveland Clinic in the US, on its website.“ Even if you have no medical problems at all, you can feel the effects. Your skin and nasal passages get dry – all the way down to your lungs.”
Ideal indoor relative humidity levels hover at around 30 and 50 percent, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency( EPA). Humidifiers can help ensure moisture is within that range by increasing air humidity and are especially useful in very dry climates.
“ Dry air can irritate your nose and lungs, potentially aggravating existing conditions,” Dr Farooq explained.“ A humidifier is one of the best ways to improve indoor air quality and support better breathing.”
For example, the right amount of tiny water droplets in the air can help relieve a stuffy nose, cough, or nasal congestion. It can also improve asthma and allergy flare-ups by reducing airway irritation and inflammation.
When humidifiers are on at night, they can help people sleep better because dry air often increases coughing, nosebleeds, and dry mouth— all of which can interrupt sleep.
In addition, the increased moisture provided by humidifiers can offer protection against skin cracking, itching, and chapping.
And if these positives aren’ t good enough, then the knowledge that humidifiers can also help prevent common conditions like the flu and COVID-19 might finally convince many to invest in one. Some studies have suggested that specific moisture thresholds are able to reduce the infectivity of the influenza virus and the spread of COVID-19 outbreaks.
But for all their benefits, humidifiers also have their downsides as they have the potential to increase or create a variety of health risks if they aren’ t used properly.
High humidity levels, for example, can promote the growth of microorganisms like dust mites and mould that in turn can cause allergic reactions and breathing problems.
The EPA also notes that some humidifiers can disperse bacteria and mould in the air, thus increasing the risk for certain types of lung inflammation.
To avoid these risks, it’ s essential to fill up humidifiers with low mineral content water that will reduce exposure to harmful pollutants. It’ s also a good practice to regularly clean humidifiers and change water daily to avoid bacteria from growing in standing water.
In general, people should carefully follow the instructions provided by the humidifier manufacturers on how to use the devices safely.
People who feel their humidifiers are negatively affecting their health, especially breathing ability, should contact a doctor, recommended Dr Farooq.
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