Humidifiers and your health

Humidifiers have become popular as gadgets for sprucing up the house and keeping rooms smelling fresh, but using a humidifier may also carry some health benefits. This article explains what a humidifier is and some of the potential health benefits associated with using them.

What is a humidifier?

A humidifier is a device that produces water vapour in order to increase the humidity (moisture levels) of air in the room.

There are a number of different types of humidifiers which utilise different technologies such as ultrasonic vibration or steam generated from electricity to produce vapour.

Ideal moisture levels are considered to be around 30-50% and levels significantly below or above this can aggravate conditions such as asthma, COPD & eczema.

Why use a humidifier?

During the winter months when you may be using your central heating more the air in your home can become dry.

The lack of moisture in the air can aggravate symptoms such as dry skin, dry throat, cracked/chapped lips and congestion.

Using a humidifier can improve the moisture levels of the air in your home and act as a natural moisturiser to help relieve these symptoms

Humidifiers are also ideal for aromatherapy with many featuring compartments for essential oils that are then diffused into the room with the water vapour.

Aromatherapy and relaxation can be great for helping practice mindfulness and taking time for mental health but there are also many studies which show that aromatherapy can play a role in managing chronic pain

Getting the most from your humidifier

Here are some top tips on how to get the most out of your humidifier:

• Don’t use for excessive periods of time – Adding too much moisture to the air can provide the perfect conditions for bacteria and mould to grow which may trigger allergies or aggravate lung conditions
• Use distilled water – distilled water has a lower mineral content than tap water, using this water with your humidifier reduces the risk of potentially harmful particles being released into the air, this can also help to reduce the build up of lime scale in your humidifier.
• Clean your humidifier regularly – Cleaning your humidifier after every use and draining the water tank before refilling fresh before each use can help to avoid build ups of scale and mould. Bacteria and mould can grow in water reservoirs and present a real health risk if not cleaned effectively.

Choosing a humidifier

With so many humidifiers on the market it can be difficult to decide which is right for you.

Here at Right Medicine Pharmacy we stock the Medicare Cirrus & Medicare Nimbus humidifiers, which have a wide array of features to suit both casual and advanced users.

The Cirrus humidifier features a built-in water filter, a fragrance compartment for essential oils and a timer which can be great for bedtime use. It also features a soft LED light which can help create a soothing, relaxed atmosphere perfect for those mindfulness sessions

The Nimbus humidifier also features a built-in water filter & oil diffuser compartment as well as a pre-heat function to help reduce germs & bacteria.  This model has further customisable settings including 3 levels of mist intensity, a hot/cool mist switch and timer with auto-shut off as well as packing a large 3.3L capacity water tank making this an extremely versatile device.