Is A Humidifier Good For Asthma

Using A Humidifier For Asthma: Does It Help Symptoms

This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHowâs Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards.There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 2,377 times.Learn moreâ¦

If you live in an arid climate, using a humidifier to add extra moisture to the air in your home could help relieve symptoms of asthma. A humidifier isnt a replacement for medication or other asthma treatments, but using one may help you breathe a bit easier. Be wary of increasing the humidity too much, though, as that could actually make asthma worse. There are lots of different options, from cool-mist humidifiers to steam vaporizers, but dont let that deter youits easy to find the best humidifier for your needs.

Read Also: What Triggers And Asthma Attack

Koios Upgrade Top Fill Humidifier

This unique-looking humidifier is what you need for a more comfortable, asthma attack-free home. What makes this different from others is its top fill design. The water tank can be filled directly from the top. It has 4L of tank capacity that will allow up to 20 hours of run time. This humidifier boasts of ultrasonic technology which allows you full control over your humidifier even with just a touch of a finger. Choose from low, medium and high mist mode. It also has a built-in sensor to check the humidity levels and determine the best humidity setting to relieve you of your cough or asthma symptoms. It works quietly with its less than 35 dB of noise level.

Pros:

• This has a good design that allows you to fill it up with water at the top with ease.
• This has a built-in humidifier sensor. It can detect the level of humidity indoors. That will make it easier for you to set the humidity mode.
• Has a low-noise function.
• It comes with a large tank capacity. It will for as long as 20 hours.
• The touch buttons are quite sensitive and are easy to use.
• Inexpensive for the features you can get.
• Doesnt take up a lot of counter space.
• This has a nice and attractive design.
• It comes with a multi-filtration system to keep allergens and microorganisms away from the water.
• It has a sleep mode as well.

Cons:

• Some people have a hard time finding a repair service center for this.

Pros:

Cons:

• Some said they have issues with its warm mist functions. It is also quite expensive.

Pros:

Cons:

Are Humidifiers Bad For Pets

Humidifiers are not bad for pets. They have health benefits like alleviating symptoms of dry skin and colds and adding moisture to the air during cold weather. However, your cat is at risk if you are using a warm-mist humidifier. It can scald and injure your cat if she tips it over.

Consult your vet if you suspect that your cats symptoms, like dry skin and runny nose, are not just due to colds. It could be signs of more serious medical conditions like tumors, viruses, allergies, and others. Your vet will have to assess first if a humidifier is necessary to avoid further complications.

Also Check: Do Asthma Inhalers Cause Acid Reflux

Buyer’s Guide To Asthma Humidifiers

There are numerous humidifiers on the market, and all purport to be the very best. However, not every humidifier will be best for your specific needs. Below we have included a few key factors that you should look out for, so take the time to consider what aspects will be beneficial to your situation.

Type

Humidifiers are available in cool mist, warm mist, and ultrasonic varieties. Each has its own pros and cons:

Auto Shut Off

To stop your humidifier from burning out, having an auto-shutoff button is a must. Unless you are a severe Type A personality and check your humidifier like clockwork, or are a robot, then you will inevitably forget to refill the machine in time.

Capacity

The size of the water tank will determine how often you might need to refill it. You also want to check the coverage capacity to see how large of a room the humidifier is meant to cover. If you have an open-plan house, then you might well need to have a few humidifiers to increase the moisture levels to where you are more comfortable. The Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier can up the humidity in a room up to 500 square feet.

Portability

Filters

Check if the humidifier needs filters. Though these are a bonus as they can clean the air at the same time as misting, it will be an added expense and hassle always to have them in stock.

Humidistat

Lighting

Ease of Cleaning

Aromatherapy

Price

How Is A Dehumidifier Good For Asthma

As Dr. Jessica Shepherd, Chief Medical Officer of Verywell Health, told Live Science, dehumidifiers are not recommended as the only tool to manage asthma, but in certain cases, they can be useful. “Dehumidifiers should not be used to manage asthma, however, yes, they can ease asthma symptoms,” she says.

As Shepherd explains, dehumidifiers are only useful if high humidity is a factor that is aggravating your asthma.

So far, the scientific evidence on the benefits of dehumidifiers for asthma shows that Shepherd’s assessment is pretty spot on: while they can help, they are certainly not all that useful during periods of “normal” humidity levels.

A 2013 double-blind study from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews on the effects of mechanical dehumidifiers on asthmatic patients showed that dehumidifiers made no noticeable impact on asthma control.

However, as the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America notes, high temperatures and thicker air can negatively affect your breathing, which can, in turn, lead to lung irritation and breathing problems. As Shepherd adds, “Heat and humidity create changes in the air which will increase the demand for oxygen. It is also important to monitor the humidity level, especially in the home, with a hygrometer as humidity levels that are over 45% encourage mold, bacteria, and dust mites growth – all of which are common asthma triggers.”

Also Check: How To Relieve Asthma Symptoms Without Inhaler

Is A Humidifier Good For Asthma Symptoms

We cant get you an inhaler. However, wecan provide something useful for you to buy: A humidifier for asthma symptomreduction. Humidifiers are a great tool for asthma sufferers because they:

• Regulate the air temperature.
• Regulate the humidity.
• Improve air quality.

The warm, moist air can help relax yourlungs and airways when they are tight. This means the air can flow more easilyto your lungs, helping you get your breath back.

Humidifiers for asthma also work byreducing triggers, so a humidifier can help you breathe easier in your home. Itisnt a cure or a guaranteeyou always need your inhaler, in case. But it makessense to do what you can to reduce the risk of an attack this winter. If youfind the cold, changes in humidity, and irritants are your key triggers, itsworth trying out one of the best humidifiers for asthma.

You also need to figure out what works foryou. Discover more about the difference between Humidifiersvs Dehumidifiers vs Air Purifiers at our blog.

Which Is The Ideal Humidity Level To Ease Breathing Problems

It is recommended that you maintain the humidity level between 30% and 50% in your home, workplace, or anyplace in need of humidity level regulation. This level is the most comfortable to stay in, irrespective of air conditioning systems. You can avoid and ease breathing problems at this level. High humidity will lead to bacterial and fungal growth, damage to property, and respiratory disease. Low humidity on the other hand could lead to watery and dry eyes, irritation in the nasal passage, dry skin, etc.

You May Like: What To Do When Having An Asthma Attack

Is It Beneficial To Increase The Humidity In My Home

To put it simply, if youre doing it the smart way, which is humidifying the clean air thats been produced by a quality air purifier, then yes.

Adding moisture to the air will help your skin, relieve some symptoms and discomforts of allergies, reduce inflammation and help moisten the delicate tissues of the nasal mucosa . But, theres a catch higher humidity levels in the air can promote the growth of mold and germs if the air is dirty. This is why you need a combination device.

People who have asked whether or not humidity is good for allergies have often lived in an area with seasons that dont vary much, or they havent traveled. Anyone who has been exposed to a wide range of climates and humidity levels can tell you how much of a difference it can make.

Dry air can cause your body to produce excess amounts of mucus, irritate your nasal passages , allow dust from surfaces to become airborne easier, and send your asthma into panic mode.

In short dry air can be really bad. You want to find the ideal level of humidity for your rooms, and many of the top-rated machines are designed with sensors and indicators to keep things in check.

Why Asthma Sufferers Need A Humidifier:

Asthma is such a health condition that you cant control easily. But you can follow some rules to decrease the risk of an asthma attack. Maintaining proper ways can also be helpful to control asthma for a lifetime without hampering your regular life.

The asthma symptoms can be triggered due to several reasons including exposure to cigarette smoke, strong fragrances, respiratory infections, and particularly allergens. It is not always possible to stay away from allergens and therefore, you may frequently be attacked by asthma.

However, another less-known reason is little humidity that can seriously prompt an asthma attack. The human body requires a specific amount of humidity level in the air. If your room has little humidity, your body will produce more mucus. This can finally cause an asthma attack or increase the risk of an existing attack.

If there is not sufficient humidity in your room, a humidifier can be very supportive to balance the humidity level. As there are thousands of air humidifiers, choosing the best humidifier for asthma will be quite difficult.

You will need to consider several things for buying such an electric appliance for asthma sufferers. The age of sufferers and the space of the particular room can be considered carefully when choosing the best air humidifier for asthma patients.

You will also need to consider the measurement of humidity level and air purification capacity of your expected humidifier.

Don’t Miss: What Happens If You Smoke Weed With Asthma

How Do Humidifiers Help With Asthma

Firstly, humidifiers are not an asthma cure. They’re designed to alleviate asthma symptoms. When someone has an asthma attack, their breathing muscles constrict, and airways become quickly inflamed.

There’s also more thickened phlegm in the lungs than usual. If you imagine all these things combined, then youll understand why someone with asthma feels they cannot breathe when this is happening.

A humidifier can help reduce the number of asthma attacks in your home because it adds cold or warm moisture to the air. It means it eases symptoms such as a dry nose, throat, and mouth.

It becomes easier to breathe more comfortably. If a humidifier is used correctly, it will give you moist air at the right temperature, making it easier to breathe.

Using a humidifier is a more natural way of keeping the airways free. If youre unsure of how to use a humidifier, we have a detailed and downloadable guide right here.

Ideally, a humidifier should provide your home with indoor humidity levels of around 30-50%. If you have too much humidity, you may find that allergens and mold escalate, and theres an increased chance of an asthma attack or an allergic reaction.

Really humid air makes it way harder to breathe. If youve ever traveled to a country or continent with high humidity levels, youll know what we mean.

What Are The Factors That Indicate Whether Your Asthma Is Set

If youre having trouble deciding whether your asthma is triggered by the levels of humidity in your surroundings or not, here are some quick tips that might help in resolving this query:

Read Also: Can A Humidifier Help With Asthma

What Does A Humidifier Do For Asthma

Individuals with asthma are sensitive to any slight change in the humidity of their environment. A slight change can spark up a big crisis. It is therefore vital to monitor the humidity level in your home. There are quite several benefits that an asthmatic patient and persons with allergies can get from the use of a humidifier.

A humidifier is one of the many natural ways to keep the airways free of air flow. Humidifiers provide moist air at your very desired temperature. It has been found by researchers that humidity levels above 40% deactivate virus particles making them less infectious. Also, when that air is dry, a persons airways are less lubricated, which makes them snore or possibly have sleep apnea.

With the use of good humidifiers, the symptoms of asthma can be put in check. It can also limit the number of asthma attacks you may have. Humidifiers help ease the discomfort that comes with dry throat, mouth, and nose. It also allows people who frequently experience irritated eyes, allergies, sinus headache, bloody noses, etc.

As discussed earlier, humidifiers make breathing easier and much more comfortable. When you use one of the best humidifiers for lung problems that will be reviewed in this article, you have a rest of mind about your attack.

Understand The Common Triggers For Asthma

There are many triggers. They include exercise, peanuts, indoor allergens such as animal fur, dander, dust, mold spores and even pollen.

It is important to understand that buying a humidifier is good for an asthmatic person. However, it is not all that there is to it.

The best thing to do is avoid the asthma triggers. It is not always possible, but you can do it. You have to live with meticulous care all the time though.

One of the triggers is cold. Dry, cold winter air is a serious trigger for the asthma symptoms. Using a heater/HVAC system makes the air warm, but not moist!

In fact, the HVAC sucks all the moisture from the air, leaving it warm and dry. Warm and dry air can still irritate your airways, this precipitating an asthmatic attack.

Thus, even with heating going on, you still need that humidifier. It will spray a fine mist into the air so that you inhale well-moisturized air all the time. Such does not irritate your airways.

Recommended Reading: Elevated Ige Asthma

Asthma Triggers Signs And Symptoms

Triggers refer to things that can cause or start an asthma attack. Some common triggers include exposure to allergens, breathing in smoke, strong fragrances, too much or too little humidity, or extreme excitement.

How would you know if youre having an attack? In some cases, you never know you have asthma until youre faced with a full-on attack.

In other cases, there are symptoms and signs that suggest you may be suffering from this disease. Here the most common signs and symptoms of an asthma attack:

Allergy And Asthma Certification Program

The Allergy and Asthma Certification Program certifies products that meet the high standards of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. This organization is a non-profit committed to finding a cure for asthma and controlling its symptoms for those afflicted. When looking for a humidifier, keep an eye out for this certification, and it will let you know when a device is a quality product.

Recommended Reading: Are Chihuahuas Good For Asthma

Only Use Distilled Water + Change The Water Daily

Our number one tip is to use distilledwater with your humidifier. While this is recommended every time, it is evenmore important for people who have respiratory problems.

Distilled water has been stripped of itsminerals and purified. This means it shouldnt have mold and bacteria living init, as some water might. You should also make sure that you never use stagnantwater . This means you should change the waterregularly, if you arent using your humidifier every day.

What Are Common Asthma Symptoms

Symptoms of asthma are coughing, a tight chest, wheezing and shortness of breath. The symptoms of asthma may range from mild to severe. Asthma affects children and adults and currently does not have a cure, but the disease is manageable. One home remedy that some people may find helpful is using a humidifier. But is a humidifier safe for everyone with asthma? Continue reading below to find out.

You May Like: Steroid Dependent Asthma

Factors To Consider When Choosing The Best Humidifier For Asthmatics Allergies

When selecting a good humidifier for any lung-related problems, there are some essential factors you may need to check out for:

• Type:

Type of humidifier talks about choosing between warm and cool mist humidifier when shopping for the best humidifier for asthma and allergies. Both can keep the air moist, however regardless of which you want to go for, ensure your humidifier has a humidistat for easy control

• Humidistat:

Humidistat is an essential aspect of your unit. This is because it controls the level of humidity in your home.

• Size or capacity:

The size of your unit is also essential as well, but the efficiency of your humidity should not be compromised. There are portable sized humidifiers/ tabletop humidifiers that are good for your small space. They can be carried about when traveling by asthmatic patients.

• Maintenance:

A good humidifier allows for easy assembling and disassembling for cleaning and maintenance. A humidifier with ultraviolet light prevents the growth and spread of fungi and mold

Also Read:Best humidifier for sleep apnea