Anybody who has ever woken up with a bleeding nose, cracked lips, or dry sinuses can attest to the unfavourable effects of dry air. Dry indoor air, a cold, or other respiratory conditions are all common causes of discomfort, but humidifiers can help alleviate them.
Humidity is the measure of how much water vapour is present in the air. With the help of a humidifier, you can prevent the dryness that can irritate many parts of the body by adding moisture to the air in your home through the release of steam or water vapour. Humidifiers, which add moisture to the air naturally, have been shown to have positive effects on health.
Some of the benefits of a humidifier are:
Certain airborne viruses, such as influenza, have been shown to be inhibited by humidity levels of 43% or higher. The infectivity rate of influenza, also known as the ability to infect others via respiratory air droplets, is between 70% and 77% if indoor humidity levels are less than 23%. When relative humidity is kept at or above 43%, the infectivity rate drops to between 14% and 22%. You can stop the spread of cold and flu germs by using a humidifier at home.
Dry air is terrible for the skin in general. Because it dehydrates the skin, dry air can be very irritating. Your skin’s moisture level can drop, leading to dryness, dullness, and cracking. Humidifiers can alleviate the discomfort caused by this by increasing humidity in the air, leaving your skin feeling supple and revitalised.
- Aids sinus and congestion
By moistening the nasal passage, humidifiers can also aid in releasing congestion and clearing the vocal cords. The cells lining your respiratory tract produce more mucus when you are ill. It may become sticky as the mucus dries, making it challenging to cough or blow air. By preventing it from drying out, increasing air moisture can make it simpler to cough up or blow your nose mucus.
A humidifier can also help alleviate symptoms if you frequently suffer from sinusitis or any other issue with your sinuses as a result of dry air.
Dry air is the main cause of sore throats, which are a common issue in the upper respiratory tract. The air in your bedroom can be made more humid while you sleep, which can help soothe sore throats.
A cough is frequently brought on by the upper respiratory tract contracting in dry air. In addition to lowering the risk of airborne disease transmission, using a humidifier will help you stop coughing by relaxing the muscles in your upper respiratory system.
One way to ease the discomfort and signs of allergies is to breathe air with a higher humidity level. Allergies can cause nasal congestion, irritation, and nasal cavity inflammation. Allergy sufferers may experience quick relief by reducing tissue inflammation. Increased humidity can cause moistened nasal tissues to expel allergens and irritants from your nasal cavity, reducing allergy symptoms.
However, mould and dust mites can spread as a result of excessive humidity. As a result, those who suffer from these indoor allergies should regularly clean their humidifiers and keep an eye on the humidity levels to ensure they don’t rise above 50%.
- Preventative measure against Asthma
Allergens like dirt, dust, pollen, spores, and more trigger asthma attacks by causing the smooth muscle in the upper respiratory tract to contract. Using a humidifier can help alleviate asthma symptoms by trapping airborne particles that irritate the upper respiratory system. Asthma sufferers can benefit from humidifiers because they alleviate symptoms such as dry and itchy throat, runny nose, coughing, nose bleeds, and sinus congestion by moistening the air in the nasal and pharyngeal passages.
- Improves the quality of sleep
Some people have trouble sleeping because of the dry air and others can’t get to sleep because of the lack of moisture. You can get better sleep and increase humidity with the help of a humidifier. In fact, many CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure treatment) machines for people with sleep apnea have humidifiers built in.
The use of a humidifier is a great way to enhance the indoor air quality of a home. You should try to spend as much time as possible in humid environments. When treating asthma or allergies, your doctor may prescribe a humidifier to increase moisture levels in the air. Airborne contaminants in dry air can make breathing difficult, increase the likelihood of getting sick, and lengthen the duration of an illness. Having more moisture in the air helps prevent dry eyes, chapped lips, cracked furniture, warped floors, window sills, and peeling paint. Because humid air feels warmer than dry air at the same temperature, humidifiers can also improve the efficiency of furnaces in the winter.
Snoring can also be decreased by increasing the moisture in the air. A person’s airways are less likely to be adequately lubricated if the air is dry, which can worsen snoring.
A humidifier’s moisture can be useful around the house. Wood floors or furniture may last longer, and any indoor plants that thrive in moisture may become more vibrant. Additionally, humidity can lessen the buildup of static electricity and stop wallpaper from cracking.
Additionally, humid air has a tendency to feel warmer than dry air, which may allow someone to reduce their winter utility costs.