There are many impressive humidifier benefits to your overall health if you use these machines properly. It can help prevent diseases, improves the air quality of the surrounding area, and may even help you control your snoring! Humidifiers have become a must-have appliance in most places where heating systems are used.
Humidifier Benefits
A humidifier is a machine that can add moisture to the air, essentially to replace moisture that has evaporated. There are several different kinds of humidifiers, ranging from small and personal sizes to whole-home solutions. Humidifiers are particularly useful during the cold winter months when heating systems can dry out the air, or during allergy seasons.
Air Quality
Putting water back into your surrounding air can help with a myriad of health problems and discomforts. According to research published in Environmental International, by Dr. Leena M. Reinikainen, air humidification can have a number of measurable effects on overall health and air quality in domestic and commercial settings.
Humidifiers add moisture to the air in order to prevent dryness. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Preventing Disease
Air that is heavily saturated with water has been shown to help deactivate the influenza virus, and prevent it from spreading airborne. Both bacteria and viruses have trouble traveling in water-rich air, so making sure your home stays moist might save you from getting sick this winter. [1]
Helping Dry Skin
Heating and air conditioning both dry out the air, and many people notice that during the winter months, their lips, nasal passages, and skin become very dry and flaky. A humidifier will help keep the air circulating inside your home and office properly moisturized, which helps your skin survive the ups and downs of winter temperatures. This is particularly recommended for nurseries, as it can protect children’s fragile skin from irritation. [2] [3]
Controlling Snoring
When the air is very dry, many people tend to snore harder, as their nasal passages dry out while they are sleeping. A humidifier can help keep your nose moist and prevent irritation. This helps reduce snoring. [4]
Sinus Health
There are many different reasons your sinuses can become swollen and irritated: allergies, dust, dryness, sickness. Whatever the cause, high humidity can keep your sinuses from getting inflamed and painful. Furthermore, if you’re already sick, sleeping with a humidifier will mean that you wake up in the morning with less of that horrible stuffed-up feeling, and this tool will help your nose and sinuses heal faster. [5]
It’s Good for Your Plants, Too
Having plants in your house helps to keep the air clean, filtered, and rich in oxygen. A humidifier will keep your plants thriving and happy, helping them work more efficiently and leading to better air quality for your entire family. [6]
Side Effects of Using a Humidifier
While humidifier benefits can make these machines seem like a great addition to any room, it is very important to keep your humidifier regularly cleaned. [7] Make sure to change the filters regularly, manually clean them at least once a week, and only used distilled or demineralized water in the device to prevent build-up. An improperly cleaned humidifier can aggravate allergies and expose you to fungi or bacteria in the air, the exact opposite of the reason you began using the humidifier in the first place!
