6 Health Benefits of Having a Humidifier in Your Home
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The purpose of a humidifier is to add humidity to your home. It releases steam that pumps out into the air which increases the levels of humidity. It’s beneficial for several health ailments and symptoms directly related to lower humidity levels occurring mostly during the winter and fall seasons, as opposed to a dehumidifier, which decreases humidity levels through the hotter months of the year. Let’s look at six health benefits of using a humidifier in your home.
1. Reducing Germs in the Air
The moisture produced from a humidifier works to decrease the risk of spreading and contracting airborne illnesses, such as the flu. Adding extra moisture helps in depleting droplets that circulate in the air after a sneeze or cough. According to Healthline, if your home has a 43% level of humidity, it takes the risk of getting the flu down to between 14 and 23%.
2. Congestion And Mucus Production
If you are already plagued with sickness, using a humidifier can assist in getting you back to optimal health faster. It keeps congestion at bay while loosening it and the germs associated. Thick mucus causes a lot of congestion that needs clearing. A humidifier makes coughs more productive while also loosening existing congestion that remains.
3. Dry Skin Relief
Do you have little ones in your home? Babies have the most sensitive skin with some becoming extreme, such as eczema. Higher humidity helps keep the skin healthy and moisturized, which helps in lower eczema breakouts. Cracked skin can generate an opening for germs. That’s why skin needs to stay moisturized.
4. Nosebleeds no Allergies
When the air in your home is extremely dry, frequent nosebleeds can occur. The nostrils are not getting enough moisture, therefore drying up and causing the nosebleeds. Sometimes, the blood from a nosebleed becomes severe, which makes more blood produced. Allergies are a culprit for this, too, and make you feel like your sick. Keep a humidifier going and those nosebleeds and allergy symptoms will be few and far between.
5. Asthma
The risk of having an asthma attack is affected by the air quality in your home and outside conditions. You can’t control the weather, but you can control the environment in your home. It is an ongoing debate and completely dependent on the individual’s needs and environmental factors as to whether a humidifier vs dehumidifier is best for the situation.
Keeping a humidifier going all day long has been shown to add a hindrance to an asthmatic because it can sometimes make the air too humid. Also, the use of tap water in a humidifier can contain minerals harmful to someone with asthma due to the potential irritant to the lungs. A dehumidifier lowers humidity which can stir up dust and other allergens specifically detrimental to an asthma sufferer.
In the end, deciding which one is best is a personal decision. You should take into consideration the air quality currently in the home as well as the pros and cons of each one before deciding on using a humidifier for asthma relief.
6. Healthier Hair and Scalp
Your hair and scalp are affected by the humidity levels that surround you. If they are too high, it makes your hair itch. If you already have a problem with dandruff, it can worsen the condition. It can also make your hair brittle and rough to the touch, reducing healthy hair regrowth.
Keep Your Humidifier Clean
To see the benefits of added moisture throughout your home, you must ensure your humidifier stays properly clean. This is because the water buildup can create mold and mildew. It causes bacteria to form, which then can shoot out into the air you are breathing, instead of the intended steam to lower humidity. A good practice is to clean the humidifier every three days to ward this off.
Conclusion
Finding the right balance of humidity in your home is important because it can affect many things with your health. Noting when your symptoms get worse will help determine whether to increase or decrease humidity in your home. Either way, a humidifier is a smart choice for anyone who desires to maintain their health.
