Breathing seems to be a luxury these days with the ominous threat of a worldwide pandemic and increasingly concerning air pollution looming over our heads. Both reasons are motivating factors as to why we spend more time indoors. This, however, does not mean our health would be any less compromised. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the ideal humidity range indoors should be between 30%-50%, and any lower or higher than this would affect us adversely, potentially aggravating symptoms of illnesses. Fortunately, while we can’t control the air we breathe outdoors, we can regulate what we breathe indoors with a simple solution — air humidifiers! Humidifiers come with various functions, but the main use of air humidifiers is mainly to relieve dryness by keeping our air moisturised.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HUMIDIFIERS?
Moist Air Can Help Prevent Dry Skin
Dry air seeps the moisture out of our skin, leaving it tight, dry, and itchy, especially around the hands and lips as these are the more sensitive areas. Even though lip balms or skincare products are common quick fixes, they are not enough to retain the moisture of the skin. Furthermore, getting to the root of the issue is a worthy investment, in the long run, bringing in a healthier and happier outcome. Of course, while it is great to consider a humidifier for dry skin issues, it is only supplementary to a good skincare routine.
Ease Symptoms of Illness
The right humidity level is crucial for those with asthma or other respiratory conditions. This is because low humidity levels might cause your nose and throat to become dry and irritated, worsening colds and flu, besides making asthma harder to control. Humidifiers are natural remedies for a stuffy nose, because the moist air keeps the mucous flowing, reducing any likelihood of nasal congestion. Hence, it wouldn’t be surprising if a humidifier could help alleviate respiratory conditions like asthma, allergies and sinus.
Reduce Snoring
Did you know that dry air is one of the factors that cause or exacerbate snoring problems? This is because insufficient moisture in the air causes the throat to swell and the nose to become congested. When this happens, air movement in the nasal passage becomes restricted, forcing you to breathe through your mouth instead. With moist air, the likelihood of this happening would be reduced.
However, to gain those benefits, there are a few things you need to pay attention to:
THE HUMIDIFIER MUST BECLEANED REGULARLY
When Do You Need One?
Patients suffering from dry and cracked skin, snoring, and sleep apnea would greatly benefit from owning a humidifier. Besides, if you have young children, a good humidifier can keep the air in your child’s room moist, which keeps their nasal passages clear and help loosen congestion. Children are more vulnerable to being sick, therefore, owning a humidifier would be a great investment in your children’s health.
In short, air humidity is always affected by the weather. Despite this, you can manipulate the humidity level in your room to maintain a healthy environment.