Skip to content To make full use of this site, you must have JavaScript enabled. If you are unsure how to do this, follow these instructions to enable JavaScript in your web browser. An invisible element in your home wields a power you never thought would affect your health: Humidity. Here are 10 amazing ways health and humidity are linked: Optimal humidity is between 40 and 60 percent , which can help fight the flu virus according to researchers from Oregon State University.
And that leads to a greater chance of someone catching the bug. These spores affect the health of mold-sensitive people by contributing to nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, and sometimes, fever and shortness of breath. Humidity is especially important during winter months or places with cold climates as heating units rob the indoor air of moisture every time the heat turns on.
Too little humidity results in bloody noses and can eventually lead to cracks and swelling of the lungs, according to Dr. Mehmet Oz. Mold is a year-round battle for those with allergies as spores thrive in high humidity indoors and out. Making sure indoor air is full of constant and regulated humidity is crucial for the allergy sufferer. Carpeting traps moisture in the air , making it a breeding ground for dust mites.
That said, if you experience congestion, you can use can use a saline spray to clear out your nasal passageway and take a decongestant to reduce local swelling. To limit the likelihood of a flare-up, keep temperature and humidity levels in your home consistent — especially as outdoor conditions change with the seasons. Both too much and too little humidity can interfere with your beauty rest.
When humidity levels are high, water vapor remains on your skin, causing you to feel clammy and uncomfortable. As soon as you pull off the covers, however, that same water vapor will rapidly cool you down and leave you grasping for the blanket once more. Cycling between these two temperature extremes will interrupt your sleep and prevent you from staying in REM.
In addition to making you toss and turn, high humidity levels can also cause congestion and worsen nighttime allergy symptoms. In contrast, too little humidity will dry out your throat and nose, causing you to wake up parched or sleep less soundly due to chronic irritation or infection. In high-humidity environments, opt for sheets made of percent cotton.
Cotton wicks moisture and provides better breathability than silk or polyester-blended fabrics. In addition, you may want to invest in a dehumidifier and fan to circulate air and reduce humidity levels in your bedroom.
In low humidity conditions, a humidifier can be your best friend. In addition to adding much needed moisture to the air, the gentle white noise produced by a bedroom humidifier can help you fall asleep and stay asleep through noise disruptions such as road traffic, snoring, and thunderstorms. The best way to determine how humidity is affecting your health is to track your symptoms in relation to humidity levels.
Outdoor humidity readings can be found on local weather sites, whereas indoor humidity can vary between different buildings and rooms. An air quality monitor can help you track humidity and temperature changes within your space and alert you when conditions become unhealthy.
Awair tracks indoor air quality in real-time and provides you with personalized recommendations to help you stay safe and healthy. To learn more about Awair and how it can help you conquer your symptoms, follow the link below.
I have been managing my asthma my entire life. As a child, I spent many nights in the ER. Gasping for air in the middle of the night has become a consistent experience.
The most alarming aspect of Since air quality is While it can be easy to view extreme weather events as only impacting the outdoor space, this is far from the truth. For example, viruses are known to spread more easily in humidity levels higher than 60 percent. So what is considered high humidity and what are safe indoor humidity levels? And most importantly, how do indoor humidity levels affect your body and your health?
Experts generally agree that the ideal indoor humidity levels for comfort and for avoiding health effects are between 35 and 60 percent. When that happens, the consequences can be dangerous. Do you ever wonder why hot, sticky, humid air feels so much more uncomfortable than hot, dry air? Too much humidity can actually cause your body temperature to rise.
When temperatures get too hot, your body has defense mechanisms that kick in to keep your internal temperature steady. These include:. Sweating is an important one, and is greatly impeded by too much humidity in the air. Sweating cools the body when the moisture evaporates from the skin. So instead of cooling down, you just feel hotter and stickier.
At that point, the body is forced to resort to other means to try to cool off. Your heart pumps more blood to your extremities, and less to your internal organs and your brain.
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