When it comes to relieving the symptoms of a cold, it all comes down to personal preference. But a vaporizer has the added benefit of allowing users to add medications for inhalation to reduce nasal and thoracic congestion. Both cold steam humidifiers and steam vaporizers can help with cold and flu congestion. Humidifiers create a fine mist or aerosol from cold water, while vaporizers boil the water and release the steam.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends using a cold steam humidifier, as vaporizers can cause burns if your child gets too close to the steam. Most studies show that both cold steam humidifiers and steam vaporizers are effective in reducing congestion caused by colds and flu. This can help you sleep better, as young children can get six to eight colds and upper respiratory tract infections each year. When looking for the best device for your needs, there are a few things to consider.
Humidifiers and vaporizers can provide comfort, but they are not effective in treating a bad cold. In the following video, a pediatrician explains if using a humidifier or vaporizer is useful for a child's health. Humidifiers can be a breeding ground for mold and bacteria if relative humidity exceeds 60%. Experts still recommend cold steam humidifiers instead of steam vaporizers for children to avoid the risk of steam burns or spills.
You can achieve the same humidity levels with both steam vaporizers and cold steam humidifiers, even if the processes are different. There are several different types of vaporizers and humidifiers on the market today, most of which use either cold steam or steam to reduce potential risks. Humidifiers are especially useful in dry climates, where breathing can be difficult due to the environment. Deciding between cold steam from a humidifier and hot steam from a vaporizer depends primarily on personal preference, but there are some important factors to consider.
In general, humidifiers work by creating steam from cold water, while vaporizers heat water to create steam. Knowing the cost of these replacement items and how often they need to be replaced can help you determine the actual cost of your humidifier.Types of portable humidifiers include those that are ultrasonic and produce a cold mist due to vibrations from ultrasonic sound, or impeller humidifiers, which use a high-speed rotating disc or fan to produce fog. A central humidifier can be connected to a home's heating equipment to receive water directly and humidify the entire house, while a table or room humidifier is smaller and must be filled manually.
