Influence of Air Humidity on Your Allergies
Humidity refers to the amount of moisture 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 inflammation of the soft, moist tissue of the nasal mucosa. Some symptoms, such as dry mouth, maybe the result of treatment with various drugs to control allergy symptoms. Breathing with higher air humidity is one way to relieve allergic symptoms and the side effects of drug therapy that interfere.
On the other hand, one of the most common allergens, house dust mites, only develops at a humidity level that exceeds a certain minimum. For this reason, maintain an ideal level of humidity in the home environment because it is important for people suffering from perennial allergies and allergic-triggered asthma.
Lower humidity levels help ensure dust mites and mold do not develop and reduce indoor air pollution, but higher humidity is much more comfortable for throat and nose tissue. The trick is to keep the air in the room so it is not too humid and not too dry.
Understand the humidity
Humidity (commonly called relative humidity) is the amount of water vapor in the air. Although theoretically, it can 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 the 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 is inhaled by us, causing allergies.
These arthropods develop at higher temperatures and higher humidity in the range of 70 to 80 percent. Although it's almost impossible to get rid of house dust mites and their allergic impurities, we can control their numbers by controlling humidity levels. Mites cannot develop at humidity levels below 50 percent.
Modern humidifiers usually have a hygrometer or humidity measuring device. Simply choose a setting between 40 and 48 percent humidity and you can maintain a balance between dust mite control and moist air that is comfortable for your skin.
Types of humidity
Assuming that you cannot monitor the entire humidity of the house, the best choice is to use a humidifier. This household equipment is usually portable and is capable of humidifying the air in one to several rooms. This machine has a water tank that must be refilled regularly.
The most common type is evaporative humidifiers, also called "cool mist" humidifiers, using reservoirs, axes, and filters to spread room temperature water vapor into the air. As mentioned above, some are programmed and have an integrated hygrometer to maintain optimal humidity levels. The filter must be replaced regularly to avoid overgrowth and saturation with minerals from tap water.
Other types of home humidity appliances include vaporizers (which produce steam), humidifier impeller, and ultrasonic humidifier. Because these tools do not use filters, impeller and ultrasonic models can store minerals such as fine dust in nearby furniture, so it's not your best bet. Vaporizers are more effective, using far more energy than simple evaporative humidifiers.
