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Should You Use A Humidifier If You Have Asthma

Cool Mist Humidifiers For Asthma

How Do Humidifiers Help People Who Have Asthma?

Cool mist humidifiers are great for those with asthma since they produce a cool mist that makes the room much cooler and moisturized. Besides helping asthma patients breathe better, cool mist humidifiers are also good at saving energy, which can help reduce electricity bills in the long term. Air Innovations cool mist humidifiers are easy to use, feature long running times and are the most versatile room humidifiers on the market.

Choose A Humidifier That Has Uv Lights

Some of the advanced humidifiers available in the market today come with UV lights. These prevent the growth of harmful substances such as mold and fungi. The UV light comes in handy especially when you have to leave the unit in an operational mode for long periods. Remember, the more you heat the water, the higher the chances of contamination.

But Now We Have A Breakthrough

Recently manufacturers in the indoor air business have become aware of the problems associated with dirty humidifiers and the allergens they might be spreading around our home and have come up with a great solution. A 2 in 1 air purifier and humidifier device that both adds humidity to the air, whilst also cleaning it ensuring the device itself is not adding any impurities to the air. Naturally it will still need cleaning from time to time, but this breakthrough in modern technology for all allergy sufferers.

We cant recommend buying one of these combi devices enough. They are fantastic and solve all the problems associated with regular humidifiers.

If you do suffer from asthma and allergies. If you would like to see some of the units we recommend, then check out our other post about it: humidifier and air purifier products.

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Use Of Demineralized Water

Tap water can not only contain bacteria and virus but also have mineral traces like calcium and magnesium. These traces gather at the bottom of the tank, and when water is evaporated, it stays behind. Over the period these traces can form hard coating inside the walls and bottom of the tank. These mineral deposits can contaminate the water and thus the air of the room. Use of filtered water can prevent these mineral deposits.

Humidity And Heat Are Just The Beginning

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When you have an increase in humidity, the humidity itself can trigger asthma, says asthma expert Susan S. Laubach, MD, an associate physician at the Allergy & Asthma Medical Group and Research Center in San Diego.

Add some heat to that humidity and you have a fertile breeding ground for allergens such as dust mites, which thrive in humid air, and mold. Mold thrives in moist, warm, dark environments, says Dr. Laubach. In the summer, we see an increase in mold. These allergens also worsen the impact of environmental pollutants, such as exhaust fumes and ozone. A study published in the journal Asthma looked at hot temperatures and asthma exacerbations and found that when the temperature is about 86 degrees, pediatric hospital visits for asthma symptoms increase in proportion with the amount of elemental carbon in the air.

For some, summer heat and humidity may be complicated by seasonal irritants such as smoke from fires. Research published in Environmental Health Perspectives revealed an increase in doctor visits because of respiratory symptoms in a Canadian community surrounded by several forest fires.

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Maintenance Is The Key To Controlling Asthma Symptoms

The best way a humidifier can be beneficial for someone with asthma problems is to maintain it properly. Humidifiers that arent cared for may become a thriving place for viruses, bacteria, mold and other susceptible factors that can contribute to other breathing issues. All of these can be dangerous to health. Here are some important things for asthma suffering individuals to remember:

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.

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Stay Awake From Smoke

You probably know you shouldnât smoke or let people light up inside your house, but smoke from a wood stove or fireplace could cause you just as much trouble. Hot, dry air tends to trigger asthma. On top of that, wood stoves emit volatile organic acids that cause even more drying. Pellet stoves, according to Dr. Lee, are slightly better for some people, in part because theyâre well sealed. Keep in mind that smoke from cooking can also trigger asthma, so run the exhaust fan to clear out kitchen fumes.

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What Is Relative Humidity

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Relative humidity is the rate of moisture the air is currently holding at a specific temperature versus the maximum moisture capacity of the air at the same temperature. When you see a relative humidity reading, its shown as a percentage.

For instance, a relative humidity of 30 percent means the air contains only 30 percent of the total water vapor it is capable of holding. Some humidifiers are equipped with a hygrometer, which is a tool that determines the airs moisture level while other humidifiers have a humidistat.

A humidistat takes the moisture-reading ability of the hygrometer a step further by not only measuring the relative humidity but also controlling it.

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How Do I Know If Other Medicines Im Taking Are Making My Asthma Worse

Any medicine can cause wheezing or shortness of breath if youre allergic to it. If you notice that your asthma gets worse every time you take a certain medicine, tell your doctor as soon as possible. If you use a peak flow meter to check your asthma, tell your doctor if you see changes in your peak flow readings after you take a certain medicine. Your doctor can decide whether your medicine should be changed.

Humidifier Or Dehumidifier For Bronchitis

If you were to ask which one among these two is recommended for bronchitis the answer is both of them. Each has their own set of advantages that makes them a good option. When a humidifier adds moisture to the air continually, it will help those people who can make use of some soothing in their bronchial tubes. It will aid to calm down allergy or bronchitis symptoms until the virus leaves the body. It will also help in releasing the buildup of discolored mucous and relive congestion.A dehumidifier on the other hand keeps allergens away which can trigger or aggravate bronchitis and its symptoms. For this reason, both dehumidifier and humidifier can be of great service to prevent and treat bronchitis.

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Can You Use A Humidifier For Sinus Problems

Sinus problems aren’t to be sniffed at – pardon the pun.

Anyone who experiences sinusitis will tell you just how painful it is. It can be challenging managing sinus pain even with over-the-counter and prescribed medications.

In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that 28.9 million Americans have been diagnosed with sinusitis – that’s 11.6% of the population! If you imagine some people remain undiagnosed, that figure could be even higher.

Alongside medication, there’s some suggestion that adding moisture to the air with a good quality humidifier can prevent sinusitis and alleviate symptoms. But, for this to be effective, its crucial to find the right type and size of humidifier for sinus problems.

So, lets explore exactly that…

Can You Use A Humidifier With An Air Conditioner

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Yes, you can use a humidifier with an air conditioner. Air conditioning units cool the air and remove moisture, and When humidity levels drop, you may begin to start noticing more than just dry air.

You might notice that your skin is dry and itchy and you might have an increase of nose bleeds.

As long as you maintain home humidity levels lower than 60% you will relieve symptoms, without causing complications of too much humidity.

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How Humidifiers Help Asthma Symptoms

Asthma is a disorder that affects multiple aspects of the breathing system. This is why it is so dangerous to suffer a sudden flare-up. Not only is there a constriction of the breathing muscles, but the suddenly-inflamed airways and an increased amount of thickened phlegm all striking at once can cause the asthmatic individual to feel as if they cannot breathe in severe attacks the individual may literally become unable to breathe.

Humidifiers provide moist air at the precise desired temperature, which is not only one of the most effective ways to keep airways free, but is one of the most natural ways as well. Nasal sprays and over-the-counter medications can open anyones airways, but they also provide a wide range of additional effects not found in clean, pleasantly humid air. If you are suffering from asthma and want to breathe easy without worrying about dosages, then humidifiers may be able to help.

Vaporizer Vs Humidifier Which One Is Best For Asthma Patients

Both vaporizer and humidifier disperse the moisture into the air. The major difference between a humidifier and a vaporizer is that humidifier emits cool water particles into the air for increasing the humidity level of a room. These units are more expensive and require more extensive cleaning. The mold and mildew can develop inside the tank that can contaminate the air of the room.While on the other hand, a vaporizer emits warm steam into the air making the atmosphere comfortable and soothing.

The boiling water kills the bacteria or other pathogens in the water and thus emit more clean steam. Inhalants like balms, herbs and other medicinal plant extracts can be added into the water that can be inhaled by the patient giving instant relief from congestion. Vaporizers also make the room warm and comfortable in winters. So patients with asthma can make use of the clean air and soothing atmosphere. Vaporizers are also more cost-effective than other humidifiers.

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Humidifier Vs Dehumidifier: Which Is Better For Asthma

For people with asthma, managing the humidity levels in their homes can make a significant impact on their overall health. Having too little humidity inside the house can cause your throat and nose to become dry, increasing the irritation. This makes colds worse, and asthma becomes more challenging to control. On the other hand, having too much humidity will allow allergens such as mold and dust mites to thrive, triggering an asthma attack. Very humid air also makes it difficult to breathe, putting a lot of strain on the respiratory system and triggering an asthma attack. This is why maintaining the right humidity level inside your home or office can significantly help in reducing your asthma symptoms. Read on to find out more about should you use a humidifier for asthma?

Regularly Cleaning The Tank

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Humidifiers need to be cleaned on a regular basis. They use water in tanks to add water vapors into the air. Leaving dirty humidifier in the room is like exposing yourself to the dirty pond of water. The dirty tank can be a storehouse of bacteria and virus that can be emitted into the air you are inhaling. So regularly cleaning the inside of the tank with some disinfectant like vinegar is important for preventing any harmful side effects of a dirty humidifier.

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What Is The Ideal Air Moisture Level

According to the Mayo Clinic, youll want to maintain a moisture level of about 30-50% when looking to alleviate asthma or allergies. However, according to some sources, 40-60% is ideal, and you may have a personal preference as well depending on your individual needs.

Every person is different, and some individuals may suffer more from dry skin or nasal passages, and some may suffer more from other afflictions due to asthma symptoms. If you keep a humidifier around, be certain to maintain the device to ultimate optimization to keep your air at a healthy humidity level.

Victsing 300ml Cool Mist Humidifier

This humidifier is not just a humidifier but also a diffuser. You can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil or medicinal extracts in water and let the aroma spread in a room with the cool mist that would make the air refreshing. The humidifier comes with an automatic shutoff system in case of low water. With its 300 ml capacity, it can keep working for 6-8 hours nonstop. The Humidifier is ideal for small spaces.

Pros1. Comes with an essential oil diffuser.2. Small and portable.3. Automatically shut off when water is decreased from the required limit.4. Cost effective.1. Small capacity works well in the smaller area.2. No filters so need more cleaning.

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Best Humidifier For Asthma And How Humidifiers Help Asthma Sufferers

There are contrasting views on whether air moisturizers help, or trigger asthma attacks. Humidifiers do help, but only when used properly.

Pollution, wind, fog, all have negative effects on our health, especially for those who have an obstructive lung disease, such as asthma. Pulmonologists all over the world advice people to regularly use their prescribed therapy spend very little time outside during bad weather conditions and, in those times, reduce their physical activities to a minimum.

During the fall, the number of viral and bacterial infections grow, which makes it a sensitive time of year for the health of asthma sufferers.

Frequent colds, pollution, abrupt changes in air temperature, all have a bad influence on people with asthma, while fog makes it even worse, triggering asthma attacks in 70 percent of cases.

Outdoor factors do have a significant role in the overall health, but the rooms in which we live, eat and sleep, need to be ventilated very often, especially during the winter.

Radiators and heaters contribute to dry air, which hurts asthma sufferers, as dry air irritates the airways and can trigger an attack.

Asthma patients are greatly affected by the change of weather. Too dry weather is ideal for the allergens and pollens to float around in the air and trigger symptoms of asthma and allergies. These allergens not only made the breathing difficult and can cause the asthma attacks but they can aggravate the existing symptoms.

Side Effects Of Vicks Inhaler

How to Clean a Humidifier

The majority of people using Vicks inhaler do not experience any side effects. Nasal discomfort has very rarely been reported with Vicks inhaler.

For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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How Are Asthma Attacks Triggered

When an event or substance triggers an asthma attack, the muscles around the airway tighten, causing bronchospasms. Then, the airway becomes inflamed and mucus production increases, both of which make it hard for the asthma sufferer to breathe. There are many asthma triggers, and these triggers are highly individualized, so they differ from one person to the next.

However, some common triggers include pollen, mold, dust, dander, certain foods like shellfish and peanuts, smoke and strong perfume. Even dry air, exercise, stress and the flu can make someones asthma symptoms flare.

Is A Cool Or Warm Mist Humidifier Best For Asthma

Both a cool and warm mist humidifier achieve the same function by putting moisture into the air and increasing the humidity level. Which is best for asthma really depends on your personal preference. Do you like being in a steam room? Do you feel your breathing improves after being in a steamy shower? In this case, then a warm mist humidifier might be your best option. If you dont like being in a sauna or hot feel that you struggle to breathe in a hot, steamy room, then a cool-mist humidifier might make you feel more comfortable.

Warm mist humidifiers heat the water in the machine to create steam, but then cool it to cool it slightly for safety to expel a warm mist. On the other hand, some cool mist humidifiers have a fan system that dispenses a cold mist into the air. In contrast, others vibrate the water with ultrasonic frequencies to produce smaller molecules. The latter type is generally much more expensive.

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Everlasting Comfort Humidifiers For Bedroom

With a 6L tank and a filterless design, its no wonder the Everlasting Comfort Humidifier is making waves in the humidifier world.

If you suffer from asthma or trouble breathing, this humidifier could be perfect for your home.

Perfect for rooms of up to 500sq feet, the Everlasting Comfort Humidifier will run for up to 50 hours continually to ensure optimal clean, fresh and cool air in your home. Whats more, should it run out of water, theres no need to panic, as this cleverly engineered gadget will turn itself off to prevent any damage from occurring.

With an essential oils tray too, you can circulate your favorite scents around the room, adding to the calming and healthy benefits of the Everlasting Comfort Humidifier and leaving your room smelling fresher than ever.

This humidifier is quiet, and perfect for homes with babies or easily scared pets. With its blue LED light, its perfect for night time use too, and wont disturb your sleeping patterns or keep you awake.

This is the perfect humidifier for you if you want to keep airborne bacteria at bay, and reduce your chances of illness throughout the year.

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