If you are seeking better sleep, especially during the winter months, a humidifier could be the answer. A humidifier requires a little change to your nighttime routine, but you could potentially expect some impressive health benefits. We explore some of the best advantages of sleeping with a humidifier in your bedroom year-round.
What is a humidifier?
A humidifier can be either free-standing or built into your heating system – though this is less common in the UK. These devices are used to create more humidity in the atmosphere of your home, releasing water vapour in order to create a more moist environment. This is particularly good for your home and can actually make the air feel slightly warmer, helping reduce energy bills.
Why do you need a humidifier?
It is thought that increasing the amount of humidity in your home can help your health in a number of ways. In the summer months, the air is naturally more dry (depending on where you live), and introducing a humidifier can increase the humidity level to the recommended amount. The moisture should be at around fifty per cent to reap the health benefits. This becomes even more important during the winter when you are more likely to have your central heating on at most times, drawing moisture from the air. Spending more time indoors, especially in dry and warm environments, can increase the spread of viruses.
Noticeable health benefits
Sleeping in a dry environment can be detrimental to your health and the quality of your rest. If you sleep with a humidifier in your bedroom, you may find that your skin becomes less dry and this could help with painful and cracked winter skin and lips. It is extremely common to find that your skin becomes dry, dull and damaged during the winter months, which can increase existing skin conditions such as eczema.
Humidity and hidden health
There are some far less visible benefits to sleeping with a humidifier – ones that are more likely to be felt over time than noticed immediately. For example, an increase in moisture in the air can reduce issues with your sinuses, reducing the amount of congestion you may feel if you have a cold. A lack of humidity can cause your nasal passages to become drier, which also makes it harder for you to block bacteria and fight off viruses. As a humidifier increases the moisture content and quality, both your nose and your respiratory system make breathing easier as you sleep, especially if you have a cold.
Humidifiers and allergies
Allergies can strike at any time of year, but airborne allergens are far more likely to become a major factor during the summer months.
There can be confusion that a humidifier removes allergies, this is known as a purifier. However, we do offer units which combine both purification and humidification at the same time. Bringing a combined unit into your bedroom can be helpful if you suffer from allergies – which can be especially beneficial if you have been spending time with your windows open in warm weather. Pollen and other allergens can easily travel on air currents and humidifiers can reduce the symptoms of allergies. Your mucous membranes will be moistened, providing more resistance against pollen and other common allergens.
Sleep health with a humidifier
Humidifiers can have a positive impact on your sleep, and higher-quality rest can also be beneficial to your overall health. Keeping your bedroom at optimal humidity can simply create a more pleasant air quality, whether you are congested or well. As you sleep, your mouth, airways and nasal passages become drier, which can worsen snoring and sore throats. This can cause your sleep to be more shallow and disturbed, which leaves you poorly rested the next day. A humidifier moistens the air and lowers the amount of dryness in your pallet, throat and more, reducing the amount of snoring and increasing your restfulness.
Humidifiers and ambient noise
As we have said, sleeping with a humidifier can make your bedroom more comfortable – even the low humming sound of a humidifier is said to be soothing for some people. This kind of white noise can help you to turn your mind off and fall asleep more quickly. While this doesn’t work for everyone, it is a hidden added benefit to sleeping with a humidifier which may give you an extra incentive to add one to your bedroom.
Keep your humidifier healthy
Before you add a humidifier to your sleep routine, bear in mind that you will need to keep it clean. Regularly cleaning and checking on the functionality of your humidifier is essential. This will prevent the buildup of dirt and bacteria that could counteract all the great health benefits of a humidifier.
Bringing a humidifier into your bedroom could give you a deeper and more restful sleep, as well as provide some health benefits. Whether you are looking to improve the look and feel of your skin or reduce allergy symptoms, even a small humidifier could be extremely helpful. By reducing the issues created by a lack of humidity in your home, you could feel fresher every day.