December 28, 2020

Will a humidifier help with a cough

Humidifiers are invaluable tools. There are several ways to use humidifiers in the home or office. These devices can help improve indoor comfort, soothe a delicate respiratory system, and even reduce heating costs during the cold winter months. But there are also some risks. In order to gain a better understanding of humidifiers and their benefits when it comes to relieving a cough, it’s important to know all the facts. We will help you to find the right humidifier for soothing a cough at night.

What is the best humidity level

The climate in your home is key to keeping your family healthy. When the air is too dry, allergies become aggravated. It happens because nasal passages are irritated. As a result, you can get a sinus infection. On the other hand, when the air is too humid, it creates the perfect environment for allergens such as mold, mildew, and dust mites to thrive. So, the humidity level in our home has a really big impact on our health. It also plays a big part in how allergies are developed. Besides helping with your allergies, well-balanced humidity levels can also reduce the number of dust mites in the air. You should get a humidifier to soothe your dry cough! The perfect humidity level is about 40-60%, so you just need to keep an eye on it. A humidifier can help clear your nasal passages and relieve any discomfort you may feel from allergic reactions, cough, any respiratory problems or dry skin.

How to check humidity levels

If you suffer from a cough or even any type of allergy, the air in your home should be neither dry nor hot. It should be comfortable for you. You should have a hydrometer to determine how moisturized or dry the air in your house is. It will help you to control the climate in your household because you will know when to use your device. Well-balanced moisture levels can relieve all symptoms. Low humidity levels can cause serious health problems and discomfort, as well as increasing the possibility of getting a cold or some sort of respiratory problem. Too much humidity, on the other hand, can lead quickly to chronic problems with mildew and black mold. But, fortunately, there are a lot of easy to detect signs and simple tests that can tell you what you need to know.

Signs of high humidity levels

You can easily learn to detect humidity levels yourself. There are several visual indicators of too much moisture in the home. Our tips will help you to resolve problems without a hydrometer or doing complicated testing. The condensation on your windows is the first sign of water vapor build-up inside. Wet stains can also appear on ceilings and walls when moisture in the air is too heavy. And, since mold and mildew growth is a direct result of a warm, damp atmosphere, signs of these spores will indicate that you need to dehumidify the house.

Signs of low humidity

If you or your family members are having problems with sore throats, dry skin, and getting a static shock every time you touch something that is metal or synthetic, these are surefire signs that the moisture in your home is too low.

What do humidifiers do

Humidifiers release steam or water vapor into the air. This increases humidity. It is a good idea to get a humidifier for the cold and flu season. Especially if you have children. You can resolve a runny nose, sore throat, and coughing with a good humidifier. Skip the scratchy nasal passages and throat by using a humidifier to stop allergies and sinus symptoms in your home. Can a humidifier help with a cough? They can help you—and your little ones—stay healthy all year round. With flu season on the horizon, read on to learn 5 reasons you should be using a humidifier right now.

Improve sleep

Sleeping problems can affect your mood, brain and heart health, immune system, creativity, vitality, and weight. Adding humidity to the air by running a humidifier at night may help to relieve your symptoms and improve the quality of sleep. A moist environment also tends to feel warmer and more comfortable, which can encourage a good night’s sleep.

Prevent dry skin

As everyone knows, 50–60% of the human body is made of water. Therefore, dry conditions may pull moisture out leaving behind dry skin, chapped lips and so on. By using a humidifier in winter, the skin remains soft and clear by retaining its natural moistness. Of course, it is also a good choice in the summer—particularly if you live in a dry climate or spend a lot of time in the air conditioning. A good humidifier can be beneficial year-round.

If you want to know more about the help of a humidifier for your skin you can read our article ‘Do humidifiers help with dry skin’.

Reduce respiratory problems

Are you suffering from sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, watery and itchy eyes, itchy sinuses, throat, headache, shortness of breath, or coughing? You definitely need a good humidifier. It will help to minimize the symptoms and add moisture to the air.

Stop snoring

A humidifier is one of the most effective snoring solutions. It will not only help you sleep more comfortably, but it can also help cut down on your snoring. Additionally, running the humidifier throughout the day is also beneficial, as it may help your throat stay moist and prevent the irritation that is associated with snoring.

Stop airborne diseases

As you know, some illnesses are airborne so you can get them simply by breathing. A recent study found that raising indoor humidity levels to at least 43% had a dramatic effect on reducing approximately 85% of airborne viruses. This is precisely why one of the main benefits of a humidifier is increasing the overall humidity levels in a room or in a home. Even in summer!

Types of humidifiers

Humidifiers are all great devices, but there are different types. While most humidifiers have the same basic function, to add moisture to the air, many types are available. It can be hard to know which type is best for relieving a cough. Here is a list of the types of humidifiers.

A warm-mist humidifier

This type of humidifier uses electricity to create steam. It cools before leaves the unit. However, there is a risk of burning the skin. Therefore, people should avoid using steam vaporizers around children. The steam also warms up a room helping the cough sufferer to breathe a little bit easier.

A cool-mist humidifier

Most cool-mist humidifiers use a filter to trap contaminants before they reach the air in the room. This version works best in warmer climates and helps cool down the room. The reduction in temperature can help the cough sufferer breathe a bit easier. This type of humidifier helps to breathe easier, to get rid of allergy symptoms and dry skin and creates a healthy environment in your home.

A whole-house humidifier

These units can purify the air and add moisture to every room of the house at the same time. For the best results, you should clean these units and change the filters regularly (it can be really expensive). Also, distilled water is recommended so you avoid the white dust build-up.

Ultrasonic

This type of humidifier is the latest technology! It uses a metal diaphragm to produce an ultrasonic vibration that creates the moisture it releases into the air. These humidifiers aren’t noisy and don’t create the white dust syndrome like the whole house humidifiers.

Understanding the difference in coughs

Not every cough is the same. Wet and dry coughs are caused by different things.

Dry cough

Dry coughs are considered “non-productive”. It is because this type of cough doesn’t produce mucus or phlegm from the lungs. Dry coughing is typically caused by things like allergies, minor throat and windpipe irritants, and acid reflux. Dry coughing can worsen if the air you breathe is dry. Therefore, a humidifier is helpful.

Wet cough

This type is considered “productive” because it loosens phlegm and mucus in the lungs. Wet coughs are brought on by viral infections. Sometimes this type of cough turns into a long-lasting dry cough. Most wet coughs are the result of a virus or an infection. A productive cough releases trapped or sticky phlegm. Wet coughing is usually painful and gets worse at night, interfering with sleep.

Do humidifiers help soothe coughing

People have used cool mist and steam humidifiers for decades to treat cough and cold symptoms. Adding humidity to the air can get more moisture into the airways, which can make a cough more productive. Humidifiers add moisture to the air. Cool-mist humidifiers may help ease coughing and congestion due to a cold. When you have a cough, sore throat or cold, it is because your respiratory system is too dried out. This is because a lot of the moisture your throat and nasal passageways need is removed from the air. Here are what humidifiers contribute to relieving you of your cough:

They add moisture into the air. As a result, you can breathe easier.
Help to ease inflammation to make it easier to breathe.
They moisten sore dry throats.
Help relieve sinus congestion.
They help stop bleeding noses, cracked lips, dry skin and much more.

If you want to know more about the advantages of a humidifier, you can read our article ‘Top benefits of a humidifier’.

What type of humidifier is good for a cough

The best humidifier is the one that fits your needs and your budget. It also depends upon the age of your family members. All humidifiers contribute to relief from coughs due to colds and other illnesses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that a cool-mist humidifier can soothe a cough by loosening mucus. Cool-mist humidifiers may help ease coughing and congestion due to a cold. Sure, both types of machines add moisture to the air and can achieve the same levels of humidity, just in different ways. But experts still recommend cool-mist humidifiers over steam vaporizers for children to avoid the risk of burns from steam or spills. Cool-mist humidifiers are the recommended choice if you have children or pets who might tip over the machine while it’s in use.

Can a humidifier make a cough worse

If you use a humidifier and follow the instructions, everything will be ok. But if not, they may emit mineral deposits, mold, and other contaminants into the air. Using distilled or purified water and cleaning your unit thoroughly and regularly can help lessen these concerns. You should keep the device clean to prevent mineral buildup, the growth of bacteria and molds. Humidifiers that hold standing water, particularly cool-mist humidifiers, can disperse these materials into the air. Emptying the tank and drying all surfaces of the humidifier daily is one way to safely keep it clean.

You can read more info about the cleaning routine in our article ‘How to clean and maintain your humidifier’.

Is a humidifier good for a cough

It’s a good idea to purchase a humidifier to add moisture to your home environment to prevent sleep problems, coughs, and dry air. This device will help with cases of both dry and wet coughs especially if you or members of your family tend to get sick often.