The benefits and harms of humidifiers

Household humidifiers are designed to quickly increase the humidity level in dry rooms. These are compact devices that can be moved to any room. Classic models evaporate moisture naturally by passing air through a wet cartridge. Ultrasonic devices are quiet, some of them are able to maintain humidity up to 60%.

Steam models additionally purify the air of microorganisms. They saturate the air with moisture most intensely. Equipment should be used only as needed; excess moisture leads to mold and mildew on walls and furniture, as well as health problems.

Why humidify the air in living spaces?

Dry air has a negative impact on wood floors and furniture. Parquet and laminate floors begin to dry out, cracks appear in the seams and creaking floorboards appear. The furniture becomes loose, the groove joints lose their strength.Interior items and doors wear out faster and crack. Plants lose a lot of moisture, so their growth slows down, the leaves begin to dry out, especially at the tips.

Heating appliances and air conditioners greatly change the microclimate in the house. When air masses are heated by climate control equipment, their “capacity” increases. This leads to the fact that the relative humidity decreases, which provokes a deterioration in well-being. Relative humidity is the ratio of the amount of water vapor in the air to the maximum volume it can hold at a given temperature.

Important! Relative humidity depends not only on the volume of water in the air, but also on temperature. When air masses heat up, it decreases, and when air masses cool, it increases.

The correct balance of humidity in the home is very important for young children. Traditional wet cleaning is not able to restore the lack of water in the air. A humidifier improves the indoor microclimate, but it is recommended to use the device as needed. It should be remembered that living rooms need access to fresh air, so replacing ventilation with humidification is unacceptable.

Humidifiers and their benefits for human well-being and health

Humidifiers allow you to quickly increase the humidity in a room, which significantly reduces the risk of developing allergies, asthma and rhinitis. Optimal humidity prevents the skin from excessively losing moisture, maintains its attractive appearance, and reduces the likelihood of premature aging. Humidifiers have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the immune system, increasing efficiency and alertness.

What are the benefits of humidifiers?

Dry air irritates the airways and larynx, making it difficult to breathe in such a room. In children, metabolic processes occur faster. Due to dry air masses, the baby’s natural heat exchange is disrupted, and he begins to sweat more. As a result, there is not enough moisture left in the body, which, combined with insufficient fluid intake, leads to dehydration. The skin becomes dry and flaky.

A large number of pathogenic microorganisms develop on the nasal mucosa, so a person more often suffers from respiratory and viral diseases, pneumonia, otitis media, and tonsillitis.

A humidifier can improve dry eye conditions that occur in dry climates. In such air, the nasal mucosa dries out, as a result of which crusts form on it, which can block breathing until it stops completely. A nose with impaired mucous membrane moisture becomes sensitive to allergens, and asthma may develop.

Air humidification in combination with the correct temperature conditions increases concentration and performance. The eyes get less tired and the person feels more comfortable.

Why should there be a humidifier in the nursery?

In dry air, pathogenic organisms easily enter the body, causing inflammatory processes. The baby's skin dries out, so the baby combs it. Irritation and allergic reactions occur. A humidifier in a children's room allows you to get rid of infections that settle on the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose.

Loss of moisture from the body leads to thickening of the blood, resulting in thrombosis. Organs and systems begin to malfunction.At an optimal level of humidity, the child consumes less liquid and does not create additional stress on the kidneys. In a room with a balanced microclimate, the baby will be active and cheerful.

Harmful effects of humidifiers

Steam humidifiers, when emitting hot steam, can cause burns to a person who is in close proximity to the device. The air temperature in the room rises, and when using the device for a long time, a steam bath effect occurs. This microclimate has an adverse effect on health. A steam device near a wall or furniture can spoil the interior with steam.

Cold humidification equipment, when not cleaned in a timely manner, accumulates bacteria and dangerous microorganisms on replaceable cartridges. The fan throws them into the air, then the microbes land on the mucous membranes when inhaled. Ultrasonic models spray water with all the salts and impurities contained in the water. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to fill only with distilled water.

When can humidifiers cause harm?

Excessive use of any humidifier leads to wet walls and damp furniture. In a waterlogged room, mold and pathogenic fungi quickly develop. This microclimate is just as harmful as a dry one. To prevent excess moisture, a control humidity measurement is carried out with a hygrometer before using the device. Proper operation of the equipment cannot cause harm.

Dr. Komarovsky's opinion: are the dangers of humidifiers real?

Dr. Komarovsky recommends maintaining the correct microclimate in the children's room. Humidity should be between 50-70%. He believes that frequent snot, turning into purulent rhinitis, is provoked by dry air. In this case, complications usually arise, a runny nose turns into bronchitis or pneumonia. During the period of flu and viral diseases, it is moist air that promotes faster healing without antibiotics.

Dr. Komarovsky claims that harm from exposure to a humidifier will only occur if the device is used incorrectly. For example, if the room is over-humidified by more than 75-80%. Devices with hot steam must be installed away from the baby so that he cannot reach it and get burned.

The doctor recommends that when choosing a specific model, pay attention to the noise level during operation. The remote control and additional functions are not always appropriate for children's rooms. These options only increase the cost of the device. Dr. Komarovsky advises turning on the device periodically when the humidity has dropped to 45%. For infants, he suggests choosing a steam or ultrasonic device. For older children, the safest, in his opinion, are ultrasonic humidifiers.

How to use a humidifier without harm to your health?

Humidifiers are not recommended for use around the clock. They quickly saturate the air with moisture to the optimal level. It is impossible to get sick from using the device, but using it in a stuffy room can lead to a deterioration in your health. Before turning on the device, it is recommended to ventilate the room for 10–15 minutes to ensure access to fresh air.

Important! It is advisable to measure the relative humidity before each time you turn on the device. If it is less than 50%, the operation of the humidifier will become appropriate.In this case, it is necessary to take into account the temperature regime. Good health is guaranteed in a room at a temperature of 20-23 ° C and a humidity of 50-60%.

When using a humidifier with a built-in hygrometer, you must remember that the readings of the measuring device will distort the actual state of the microclimate. The humidity near the device is always higher than in distant parts of the room.

To avoid the appearance of a white coating on furniture, only distilled water is poured into ultrasonic and steam equipment. The use of purified liquid extends the life of the cartridges, and impurities contained in tap water will not enter the human lungs.

Conclusion

This device has both pros and cons, you should follow the advice of your doctors and everything will be fine!