Is Air Humidifier Good For Asthma

It Should Have A Humidistat

Nothing beat a humidistat when it comes to maintaining an optimum level of humidity. What this means is that when the set level of humidity is achieved, the humidifier switches off. That means two very important things:

• You will not over-humidify the air that you are breathing
• You will save on your energy bill because it only runs when there is need

When the level of indoor humidity starts to fall, the humidifier switches back on again.

Even if you have the humidifier in babys room and you are at work all day, you can be sure that the baby will enjoy the optimum humidity level all the time.

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

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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

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Venta Lw25 Airwasher 2

This humidifier is perfect to cater the allergy issues as it works both as an air purifier and a humidifier. As the dirty and polluted air passes through its rotating moistened Disc Stacks, all airborne particles adhere to this Disc Stacks thus purifying the air. The unit only emits moistened air without any dust particles or pollens. The system does not use steam or water vapors to increase the humidity level and thus over humidification becomes impossible. The Humidifier works without any filter and can be used throughout the year without having to replace the filters.

Pros

What Can A Humidifier Do For People Suffering From Asthma

We have already established that dryness in the air can worsen or trigger asthma. So, if you or anyone in your household who has asthma is living under conditions that do not have enough moisture, then they are more prone to asthma attacks.

With asthma, your airways become narrower and swell causing difficulty in breathing. A relatively recent study showed that asthma worsens when living in a dry environment as it causes the nerves to tighten and become narrower which makes it harder to breathe.

Furthermore, in winters when your indoor heating is on, the level of dryness in the air is high. This is due to the fact that modern heaters bring in air from the outside which is much dryer.

Another reason why a humidifier is good for asthma is that it ensures that the air in the room is not inactive or stagnant as that increases the possibility of pollutants and allergens in the atmosphere such as dust particles/mites, pollen, mold, etc. This can also affect your asthma or trigger an attack.

Now, it goes without saying that if you or anyone in your household is suffering from asthma then it would be a great idea to invest in a humidifier.

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Air Innovations Cool Mist Digital Humidifier With Aroma Tray

We recommend this for people who have multiple asthma sufferers in their home. If you have kids who suffer from this condition, get this humidifier that is capable of humidifying a bigger space. It has an anti-microbial tank and base that will ensure the water that passes through will remain bacteria and allergen-free. To top that off, it also comes with a permanent ceramic filter. It can keep sediments and impurities out without the burden of having to replace the filter. With its 5 mist settings, you can be assured that this will provide you with the humidifying properties that you need for your home.

Pros:

• This is powerful enough to work in a bigger room.
• It operates for a long time. Just one tank can deliver mist of up to 96 hours.
• It also doubles as an aromatherapy device. It comes with aroma pads that you can use for your essential oils.
• It ensures clean and allergen-free mist because of its antimicrobial base and tank. It even has a permanent ceramic filter that wont require replacement.
• The extension nozzle can be removed for easier clean-up.
• This comes with 5 different mist settings, perfect for different spaces.
• No need to stand up to change the setting because it comes with a remote control.
• It features an automatic shut off function.

Cons:

• There was a customer who said the humidifier reading is not accurate.

Consult Your Physician Before Using A Humidifier

Of course, it is wise to first ask your physician whether you can use a humidifier or dehumidifier for asthma.

You should also seek to know what is better between a warm mist or cool mist humidifier for asthma.

The answer will most likely be yes, you can. However, it never hurts to be doubly sure when your health is hanging in the balance. When it is about your health, you know it would be better to err on the side of caution.

As to the question of how a humidifier helps with asthma, well, there are many things to consider here.

One of them is that asthma is triggered by cold air. In the winter months, the air is most likely going to be cold.

But that is not all there is to it. You see, in winter, the air is cold and dry too. That is why we use humidifiers in winter, to moisten the air and make it smoother and bearable for our lungs.

Cold dry air is going to rough up your nerve endings in the airways. This causes an inflammation and in return, this triggers an asthmatic attack.

However, when you use a cool mist or warm mist humidifier, it releases some moisture into the air. This makes it easier on the nerve endings, and does not trigger an asthmatic attack.

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How Air Humidifiers Alleviate Asthma Symptoms

Asthma is a common disorder that affects several aspects of a persons respiratory system. When an attack occurs, it can be very devastating because the breathing muscles constrict uncontrollably and cause sudden inflammation of the air passages. This causes the asthmatic individual to experience a constricting, suffocating feeling and literally become unable to breathe.

Medication keeps the condition in check, but there are factors that contribute to increased frequencies. For example, breathing dry and harsh air can sometimes irritate the sensitive nerves in the lungs and cause the airways to constrict.

Humidifiers come in to keep all the harmful effects at bay by increasing the content of vapour in the atmosphere. Typically, you want your air to retain about 30 to 50 percent moisture content anything above or below that poses its own unique hazards.

With a good air humidifier, asthmatic individuals can rest easy knowing that flare-ups are less likely to occur. This is because moist air is not only easier for the lungs, it also holds a bit more heat, making breathing very natural and comfortable for people with asthma.

More moisture in the air also makes it much harder for dust, pollen or any allergens to float around the atmosphere, making it cleaner and very conducive for anyone with respiratory issues. Thanks to humidifiers, many asthma patients no longer depend on their inhaler when at home or in the office.

Ways Humidity Affects Asthma

Allergens, chemicals and strong scents are common triggers for the almost 25 million Americans with asthma. But high humidity can be just as troublesome.

People with asthma have inflamed airways that are sensitive to things that may not bother other people. Thats why humidity, and all that comes with it, can be a problem for people with asthma.1 Here are some reasons why.

1. Humid air feels harder to breathe in. Some believe moist air is heavier and harder to breathe. Heat and humidity usually occur together. So when the air is harder to breathe, your body temperature can go up, causing you to sweat. This can lead to dehydration, which can make you breathe faster. All of this combined can trigger asthma symptoms.

Consider spending time outdoors in the mornings or evenings when heat and humidity levels tend to be lower. This can be especially important if you exercise outdoors.

2. Humidity can mean extreme temperatures. Since humidity usually is highest in the summer, extreme heat can aggravate your airways, just like extreme cold air can. Asthmatic lungs tend to be more sensitive to extreme temperatures.2

Sudden changes in temperature can affect your lungs too. If youve ever left a dry, cold air-conditioned building to go outside into hot, humid air, you know the change in air and temperature can be quite a shock. If you have asthma, the sudden change can actually cause an asthma attack.

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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.”

Humidifier Or Vaporizer For Asthma

Vaporizers are actually just a type of humidifier. The main difference between other types of humidifiers and vaporizers is the way they release moisture into the air. Humidifiers typically create mist using cold water, while vaporizers heat the water in order to create steam. It is worth noting that warm mist humidifiers and vaporizers arent technically the same, either. Warm mist humidifiers warm the water before release, but vaporizers actually use boiling water.

In this sense, then, we could argue that out of all the different types of humidifier, vaporizers might be best for asthma suffers. Boiled water will have much less contaminants than warm or cool water. Even better, the steam itself will open up and relax the airways more effectively.

Moreover, vaporizers are more likely to include functions and features that allow you to add other ingredients into the water. This might be essential oils or some kind of soothing vapor. Therefore, if you find a concoction that will improve your breathing, the vaporizer will soothe your asthma symptoms even more.

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Warm Mist Vs Cool Mist Humidifiers

There are two primary categories of humidifiers. Warm mist humidifiers release warm mist or steam vapors into the air that you can see and feel. Often quieter than other types of humidifiers, these may be best at soothing sinuses and thinning out mucus secretions. Warm mist humidifiers are typically better for smaller areas. Since they release hot mist, however, it would be safer to keep these humidifiers away from children.

Cool mist humidifiers are quieter and easier to clean typically, but the easier cleaning also means they must be cleaned more frequently, and as mentioned above, cleaning the humidifier is crucial. Cold mist humidifiers work better in larger environments and this cooler mist is often considered more comfortable to breathe.

Remember Dont Overdo It

While the excitement and benefits of a brand new air humidifier is enough to make you crank your unit to max for hours on end, it is also important to remember that too much humidity in the air is just as dangerous and unhealthy as dry air. Try and keep the moisture between 30 to 50 percent to get the most out of your humidifier.

Also Check: What Triggers And Asthma Attack

Ucareair Cool Mist Humidifier

This humidifier though compact, works effectively to remove bacteria and allergens in the air while increasing humidity levels. Ucareair Cool mist humidifier ensures dryness, fatigue and nasal infections that usually come with cold weathers are prevented.

The device is quite easy to use and refill, it has an arc-shaped design tank with a handle that allows for an easy and secure grip. The humidifier also has a 2 piece design and a large water hole inlet. This way cleaning is quite easy, just run water through it, shake and brush with the brush provided before each refill.

Its ultrasonic technology also ensures the efficient working of the humidifier. It completely atomizes water into a thin mist so that it mixes smoothly with the air without leaving water droplets on the ground or table.

It is filterless, offers automatic shut down when the water level is critically low and has a control button for mist output. Ucare cool mist humidifiers portable size also makes it ideal for travelling and it can provide up to 25 hours of continuous usage.

An Air Purifier Vs An Air Filter

An air purifier is different than an air filter, which traps pollutants by forcing the air through a filter. While both devices trap and filter out pollutants, only an air purifier sanitizes the air.

An air filter may be part of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system or be portable.

Several types of filters may be used in both devices, including:

• washable

• pollen from outside

An air purifier can take these triggers out of your home by trapping them in the filter. It works by bringing in air and trapping these small particles, then releasing the clean air. An air purifier also sanitizes the air around it.

However, studies have found mixed or inconclusive results as to whether or not air purifiers help asthma symptoms.

According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers , air purifiers may be less effective than regular air filters, as they often dont trap particles as well as air filters. If the allergens arent trapped effectively, they may be redistributed on surfaces closer to the purifier.

Other studies have a different opinion. For instance, a 2018 study found that air purifiers are effective for helping to relieve asthma symptoms, especially for children.

According to a 2016 study, air purifiers may be better at getting rid of some allergens, like smoke, but less effective at reducing other allergens, like animal dander.

Overall, how well an air purifier can help with asthma symptoms depends on the:

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How Can Humidifiers Ease Asthma Symptoms

When properly maintained and regularly cleaned, humidifiers can ease some of the problems caused by dry air, like asthma. Experts continue to debate the exact benefits humidifiers can have for asthma sufferers, but many acknowledge the important role humidity plays to offset the effects of dry home environments.

Increased humidity may help ease breathing problems in children and adults with asthma or allergies, especially if they have contracted a respiratory infection.

Here in California, humidity levels are rarely consistent. Having a whole-home humidifier installed by Service Genius in your HVAC system can help bring balance to your homes indoor air quality.