Contents:
- Medical Video: The Health Effects of Humidity | Seaira Global
- Understanding humidity
- Types of humidity
Medical Video: The Health Effects of Humidity | Seaira Global
Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air and plays a role, both in the development and treatment of allergies. Allergic rhinitis, for example, often manifests as nasal congestion, irritation, and fine inflammation, moist tissue of the nasal mucosa. Some symptoms, such as dry mouth, may be the result of treatment with various drugs to control allergy symptoms. Breathing with higher air humidity is one way to relieve allergy symptoms and side effects of disturbing drug therapy.
On the other hand, one of the most common perpetrators of allergies, house dust mites, only develops at a humidity level that exceeds a certain minimum. For this reason, maintain the ideal level of humidity in the home environment because it is important for people who suffer from perennial allergies and allergic-triggered asthma.
Lower moisture levels help ensure dust and mold mites do not develop and reduce indoor air pollution, but higher humidity is much more convenient for throat and nose tissue. The trick is to keep the air in the room so it is not too damp and not too dry.
Understanding humidity
Humidity (commonly called relative humidity) is the amount of water vapor in the air. Although it can theoretically range from zero to more than 100 percent, the relative humidity in a room usually ranges from around 20 percent to 70 percent.
Personal comfort depends on humidity, because air from a certain temperature feels warmer with high humidity. Conversely, air at the same temperature feels cold if humidity is low.
House dust mites, invisible creatures around us that "recycle" dead skin cells, live wherever humans live. Technically, it is an enzyme in their waste that becomes air and finally inhaled by us, causing allergies.
These arthropods develop at higher temperatures and high humidity in the range of 70 to 80 percent. Although it is almost impossible to remove house dust mites and their allergic impurities, we can control their numbers by controlling the humidity level. Mites cannot develop at humidity levels below 50 percent.
Humidifier modern people usually have a hygrometer or humidity measuring device. Simply choose a setting between 40 and 48 percent moisture and you can maintain a balance between the control of dust mites and damp air which is comfortable for your skin.
Types of humidity
Assuming that you cannot monitor the entire humidity of the house, the best choice is use humidifier. These household appliances are usually portable and can moisturize air in one to several rooms. This machine has a water tank that must be replenished regularly.
The most common types are evaporative humidifiers, also called "cool mist" humidifiers, using a reservoir, axis, and filter to spread room temperature water vapor into the air. As mentioned above, some are programmed and have an integrated hygrometer to maintain optimum humidity levels. Filters must be replaced regularly to avoid overgrowth and saturation with minerals from tap water.
Other types of home humidity devices include vaporizers (which produce steam), impeller humidifiers, and ultrasonic humidifiers. Because these tools do not use filters, the impeller and ultrasonic models can store minerals such as fine dust on adjacent furniture, so that is not your best choice. Vaporizers are more effective, using far more energy than simple evaporative humidifiers.
