Is a Humidifier Good for Asthma?

Let me begin this article by answering the question, in short, yes, a humidifier is good for asthma. In this article, we will be sharing the reasons why you should invest in a humidifier if you or anyone in your household is suffering from asthma.

The climate in the states is a bit moody, with some places having extremely cold winters and others having extremely hot summers. Due to such vastness in climate temperature, the quality of air is also affected and is highly non-uniform. For example, the air quality in the States becomes warmer as one travels further in the south, and once moving closer to the west, the air becomes dryer and dryer. Therefore, states that are in the western region such as Alaska, Arizona, California, or states that are closer to the southern region have the highest number of asthma-related cases.

It is very important for people suffering from respiratory problems such as asthma to make sure that they are living under controlled humidity levels as it can affect their health drastically. Thankfully, today, humidifiers have allowed us to do just that.

What is a Humidifier? 

A humidifier is a device that allows you to control the humidity levels of your room or your entire unit/house by adding moisture to the air.

What can a Humidifier do for you?

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of people investing in a humidifier, and here’s why: humidifiers help you not only control the humidity levels of your living space but also have several other health benefits. 

If you’re someone who is constantly struggling with dryness of skin, nose, throat, or lips, chances are you are living under non-ideal humidity levels. A humidifier can help you relieve dryness by controlling the levels of humidity in your surroundings.

If you’re someone who is not sure about humidifiers then we would recommend going for a personal/portable size of humidifier that won't break the bank! Such as this model. It is portable and runs on an ultrasonic technology that allows you to enjoy healthier air without any undesirable loud sounds. 

Or if you’re someone who lives by the rule of minimalism then we would suggest checking out a tankless model. They are perfect for travel and can easily be carried in your bag or purse.

What can a Humidifier do for People Suffering from Asthma?

We have already established that dryness in the air can worsen or trigger asthma. So, if you or anyone in your household who has asthma is living under conditions that do not have enough moisture, then they are more prone to asthma attacks.

With asthma, your airways become narrower and swell causing difficulty in breathing. A relatively recent study showed that asthma worsens when living in a dry environment as it causes the nerves to tighten and become narrower which makes it harder to breathe. 

Furthermore, in winters when your indoor heating is on, the level of dryness in the air is high. This is due to the fact that modern heaters bring in air from the outside which is much dryer.

Another reason why a humidifier is good for asthma is that it ensures that the air in the room is not inactive or stagnant as that increases the possibility of pollutants and allergens in the atmosphere such as dust particles/mites, pollen, mold, etc. This can also affect your asthma or trigger an attack.

Now, it goes without saying that if you or anyone in your household is suffering from asthma then it would be a great idea to invest in a humidifier. 

What are the Factors that Indicate Whether Your Asthma is Set-off by Humidity or Not?

If you’re having trouble deciding whether your asthma is triggered by the levels of humidity in your surroundings or not, here are some quick tips that might help in resolving this query:

1. For starters, check to see whether your asthma improves when the weather changes to hot and humid.

2. If you’re living in a basement unit/room then chances are the quality of air would be a lot more dry than ideal for asthma patients. It is better to invest in a humidifier to control the humidity levels in such a room.

3. If you’re living in an enclosed space with not much natural light or ventilation and if you’re constantly having breathing problems such as coughing, tightness in chess, or shortness of breath. Such a place is ideal for germs and dust particles in the air which may be triggering your asthma.

What are the Things You Should Keep in Mind?

It is important to keep in mind that anything in excess is not good for our health and the same goes for humidifiers. It is crucial for us to switch-off our humidifiers and let in the fresh air from time to time. Thankfully, most Ultrasonic Humidifiers come with an automatic shut-off feature that allows you to use your humidifier without worrying to shut it off. This feature comes in quite handy, especially at night.

The Bottom Line

The final takeaway from this article should be a sense of relief regarding the benefits of humidifiers concerning asthma. Humidifiers are good for people suffering from asthma, and investing in one would be smart.