Almost 80% of Americans suffer from seasonal allergies. Getting used to these symptoms can be unpleasant, but there are some ways to reduce or even eliminate them.
The climate in your home is very important to your well-being. It can create an environment that’s too dry and can lead to sinus infections. It can also stimulate the growth of dust mites and mold.
Can Humidifiers Help With Allergies?
Humidifiers help to reduce allergic problems like pneumonia, sinus by adding moisture and balancing the humidity in the air. A well-maintained humidifier also improves overall health by creating a bacteria-free environment and wiping out the dust particles in the air.
A good humidifier can help keep the humidity in check and reduce the number of allergens in the air.
Related: What Are the Benefits of a Humidifier?
How To Maintain Optimal Humidity Level?
If the air in your home is too dry or hot, it can worsen your symptoms. To control the climate in your house, you should always have a hydrometer that determines the humidity in your environment and will allow you to set the temperature when using it.
Even if you have a hygrometer, it’s still important to check the humidity in your home to see how much moisture it has.
If the water in your humidifier has been sitting there for a while, it can start to develop bacteria and fungi. This can then cause your body to experience the same allergic reactions that it did when it was fresh air.
Before you put your humidifier in storage, make sure to drain it and clean it thoroughly. It’s also important to throw away all of its accessories and cartridges.
If you’re prone to suffering from seasonal allergies or are looking to improve the air quality in your home, a humidifier may be the right choice.
Related: When Should Humidifiers be Used?
How To Properly Use a Humidifier for Allergies
However, using a humidifier properly is very important to avoid getting damaged by the humidity and mold that can enter the body.
You also need to make sure that your humidifier is clean. Warm mist humidifiers can accumulate mold in their tanks, which can damage the device.
Since cool mist humidifiers tend to collect more bacteria and mold, they require more cleaning to remove. To keep them clean, use white vinegar and gently remove the components of the unit.
Ideally, a good humidifier should be placed in a proper location to get the most benefit from its use. However, it’s also important to avoid placing the device near pets and children since it can cause serious skin burns.
Before using it, make sure to fill the tank. Doing so can help prevent the formation of bacteria in the water. Also, draining the tank can help remove any impurities.
What Type Of Humidifier Is The Best For Allergies
A good humidifier can help reduce the growth of allergen particles in the air. It will then create an environment that’s free from bacteria and viruses.
Warm Mist Vs Cool ist Humidifiers
Before buying a new humidifier, it’s important to decide which type of device you should use and how often to clean it. Some people prefer the cool mist over the warm mist. It’s also safer to use for children and is ideal for people with respiratory conditions like asthma.
Steam humidifiers are quieter than their cooler counterparts. They can be used to reduce mucus secretions and stimulate the growth of allergen particles.
Air Washer Humidifier
Air washer humidifiers are also known as cool mist humidifiers. They use the same principle as their cooler counterpart but with different filter discs.
Ultrasonic Humidifer
Both types of humidifiers can be found in warm mist and cool mist. The former uses a fan to push the water particles into the air, while the latter evaporates.
Evaporative Humidifier
Basically, a cool-mist humidifier uses a fan to pull air from the surrounding environment. It then pushes the water vapor into the air through a wick. This type of humidifier is commonly used in areas with extremely dry conditions.
Steam Vapor Humidifier
Steam vapor humidifiers are known to heat the water vapor and release the humidity. Since these machines are known to kill harmful compounds, they are less likely to cause allergic reactions in the air.
Does Dry Air Affect Allergy?
Dry air is known to have negative effects on people with respiratory conditions. In fact, it can even cause allergic reactions.
Your respiratory system is made up of thin membranes known as mucous membranes. These membranes help keep harmful substances, such as bacteria, from entering the body. However, they can also get damaged if they are not properly nourished.
Dry air also irritates the sinuses, which can cause severe allergy symptoms. Since you breathe through your nose, it can affect the mucus membranes in your throat.
Unfortunately, being in a dry environment can also dry out the substances that trigger allergic reactions. These include pollen and dust mites.
The other symptoms of a high humidity level include static cling on various objects and the inability to wear clothes. This is because the body uses these chemicals to keep the clothes together.
The static cling on your clothes may be caused by the high amount of static electricity in your home. It can also affect the circulation of the nasal passages.
Related: How Humidifiers Help Skin?
What Is The Best Option To Reduce Allergies?
Both air purifiers and humidifiers are great products for people with respiratory conditions. However, they’re not ideal for everyone.
Air Purifier
Air purifiers are devices that remove airborne particles such as dust, dander, and bacteria. They also help reduce the levels of pollutants in the air. One of the most popular air purifiers is the True HEPA filter, which is able to remove particles with a diameter of fewer than 0.3 microns. An air purifier doesn’t add moisture to the air. The functions of an air purifier are to clean and filter out pollution.
Humidifier
A good humidifier can also help improve the air quality in your home by pumping water vapor into it. It can relieve dry skin, nasal congestion, and other respiratory problems.