Humidifiers & Asthma

Creating a more humid living enviroment can help keep your asthma under control

Asthma, a condition of the lungs that can cause a person to stop breathing, can sometimes be prevented with a humidifier. But simply putting the device on a shelf and letting it run won't do the trick. You should follow a few guidelines to ensure the optimal breathing environment.

Basics

Humidifiers inject water into the air, creating a mixture of air and water called humidity.

Humidity Level

The humidity level for the ideal breathing environment is 40 to 45 percent. Levels below this can cause the air to feel dry, while high levels can cause mold to grow. Both conditions adversely affect asthmatic lungs.

Hygrometer

This device tells you the level of humidity in the air of your household, helping you keep your humidity levels at the appropriate percentage.

Types

According to QualityHeath, you should use a steam humidifier instead of a cool mist humidifier. This reduces the amount of allergens injected into the air.

Maintenance

Keep your humidifier and the steam it produces clean by changing the water every time you use it, and changing the filter according to the device's manual.

References

• Paul: Humidifiers: to use them or not?
• Quality Health: Humidifier "Do's" that Don't Trigger Asthma