One of the common long-term conditions which affect a lot of people around the world and requires continuous management is asthma. Every year, approximately 160,000 people are being diagnosed with asthma.
So which is better for asthma a humidifier or a dehumidifier? If you are suffering from asthma you might be considering having both. A dehumidifier and a humidifier in your house will help you to control the humidity because if the moisture is too low or too high it can trigger asthma attacks.
This condition can affect people from different walks of life and of all ages. However, this often begins in childhood even though this can also develop later on in adulthood.
But, suffering from asthma can vary from one person to another.
No matter what its effect might be, there is no denying that it can take a toll on a person, both emotionally and physically.
For this reason, it is important to look for ways and things that can help alleviate your asthma.
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What is Asthma and What Causes Asthma Attacks
1 out of 4 Americans suffers from asthma and allergies. Every day, thousands of people experience asthma attacks.
Controlling humidity level is a key to relieve and manage asthma symptoms.
It is basically a chronic disease, which impacts airways carrying air out and in of the lungs.
With this disease, the airways’ inside walls become swollen and sore, which make them sensitive and reactive easily to the irritants.
When the airways react, they become much narrower and lungs take in lesser air. It results in wheezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, and tightness of the chest. The symptoms can be persistent at night and early in the morning.
Particular environmental substances may trigger asthma attacks.
One’s body with asthma interprets such triggers as threats and lungs overreact through triggering asthma attacks.
During severe attacks, the airways may close so much that important organs do not get enough oxygen. As a matter of fact, thousands of people die every year due to asthma attacks.
Breathing dry, cool air may irritate nerves in the lungs, which lead to inflammation and cause airways to constrict.
On the contrary, humidified and warm air can relax the lungs, which allow more air to make its way to the lungs.
The humidifiers disperse moisture back into the air, which sooth airways and enable easier breathing.
When you are using humidifiers for asthma relief, your unit’s placement is an essential consideration.
Place your unit away from the furniture and draperies and ensure that the carpet or floor near the humidifier does not become very damp.
Too much humidity could result in bacteria and mold growth, which would only exacerbate asthma and might trigger attacks and could lead to some problems in your house.
Identify Your Indoor Triggers
People who have been suffering from asthma for quite some time will understand the triggers for their condition, thus allowing them to avoid these as much as possible.
There are instances when the triggers are obvious, but there are also cases when it is not.
The best and most effective means to keep yourself protected from triggers around your house is to get rid of them all together.
A few of the most usual triggers are the following:
- Dust mites and dust
- Animals
- Mold
- Tobacco smoke
- Pet Dander
- Outdoor air pollution
But, if it is unwise or impractical to remove the trigger, reducing exposure to the sources is also proven to have a significant contribution to the overall health of the person suffering from asthma.
How Will You Know if Humidity Triggers Your Asthma?
The simplest way to determine if your asthma is triggered by humidity is to check if the symptoms get worse every time the weather becomes warmer. Several of the common symptoms include:
- Coughing
- Breathlessness
- Wheezing
- Tightness in chest
No matter what triggers your asthma attack, the truth is that it can be very difficult to eliminate all the allergens in your home.
If you want to manage and cope with your asthma triggers, what you can do is to always be a step ahead of your asthma.
Through managing your asthma properly, your body will be in a much better position to deal with asthma triggers every time you come into contact with them.
Dehumidifiers VS Humidifiers
There is a debate over whether humidifiers are ideal for asthma. Increased level of humidity can ease breathing, particularly during cold or some respiratory infection.
Also, increased moisture in the air may result in increased growth of various allergens including dust mites that could worsen or trigger allergy symptoms.
If humidifiers are not cleaned properly, it can be a breeding ground for bacteria and mold that could be released into the air and trigger asthma attacks.
Evaporators or steam vaporizers can slightly release airborne allergens compared to cool-mist humidifiers, yet even the steam vaporizers need cleaning on a regular basis.
While humidifiers might be a great investment during winter days or in dry climates, dehumidifiers may also come handy during hot months or in humid climates.
Dehumidifiers basically dry the air and would keep the humidity levels indoor at a safe and comfortable level.
Dehumidifiers also collect the excess moisture from the air and reduce humidity levels.
No matter what you choose, whether you want a dehumidifier or humidifier, the perfect range of humidity for your house is between thirty and fifty percent.
If you have a humidity level that is comfortable, utilize the humidistat feature when keeping humidity at a constant and comfortable level.
If the unit does not have a humidistat, you may measure humidity with a hygrometer, which is a device measuring the moisture in the air.
Is A Humidifier Or Dehumidifier Good For Asthma?
If you are one of the many people who suffer from asthma, you might have considered buying a dehumidifier or humidifier to help relieve some of the annoying and debilitating symptoms.
Asthma symptoms might be triggered by humidity that’s too low or too high.
Depending on your indoor air quality, a humidifier or a dehumidifier may help stabilize the humidity in the air and improve the symptoms of allergy.
When to Use a Humidifier
Asthma flare-ups may happen because of dry air. It irritates air passages and the nerves in the lungs, which lead to inflammation that might cause airway restrictions that are associated with asthma.
Humidifiers basically add a moisture level in the air until the humidity reaches a healthier level. Breathing moist air might help soothe the airways and reduce the chances of asthma attacks.
The level of humidity in your house must average around forty to fifty percent. If the humidity levels of your home are low, humidifiers might be required.
Humidifier – Why It Works?
According to experts, breathing dry and cool air may sometimes irritate the nerves in the lungs that lead to inflammation as well as causes airways to constrict.
The humidifiers for your house disperse moisture in the air, so you will be breathing moist air, which can lead to asthma attacks.
Placement of humidifiers is crucial when using one, particularly if you’re trying to control your asthma.
Make sure to place your unit away from the furniture and draperies.
Aside from that, make sure to keep an eye on the carpet’s dampness or flooring near humidifiers.
If such areas become very damp, it might cause mold and bacteria to grow that would make it much harder for you to breathe.
Tips to Use Humidifiers Effectively
There are debates over whether or not humidifiers are great for those who have asthma since the levels of moisture in a home might get too high and it makes a good environment for the dust mites to grow and live.
Aside from that, once not maintained and cleaned on a regular basis, humidifiers can be a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Therefore, it’s essential to use a humidifier properly.
It is crucial to clean your humidifier on a regular basis so bacteria and mold won’t develop that can be dangerous to one’s health.
Use water with low content of minerals to prevent the buildup of minerals.
If you plan to store your unit for a long period of time, make sure that it’s dry before storing it and clean it properly before using it again.
When Do You Need a Dehumidifier for Your Asthma?
Moisture in the air helps people with asthma breathe much easier. Yet, too much humidity might also be dangerous for your health.
It’s where dehumidifiers come in. High levels of humidity create an environment perfect for mold and it can cause asthma attacks.
Dehumidifiers work to absorb too much moisture in the air inside your home and decrease the amount of the surfaces that may harbor the growth of mold.
From mold to dampness, condensation, to asthma, dehumidifiers can be very helpful for three things, namely health, managing excess moisture, and comfort.
As far as health is concerned, living within a humid environment has the tendency to cause issues in people who have asthma since humid air can activate the nerves in the lungs that tighten and narrow.
Humid air can make the air stagnant to the point that it will trap allergens and pollutants such as dust mites and dust, mildew, mold, smoke, and pollen, all of which can trigger an asthma attack.
The use of a dehumidifier can help clean the air and reduce the number of asthma triggers by getting rid of excess moisture in the air which is humid and warm, minimizing and protecting exposure to the growth of bacteria, pollutants, and allergens inside the home.
Controlling the humidity levels in your home is a good way to avoid asthma flare-ups. Know the countless benefits of using dehumidifiers and humidifiers and why you should get one now.
