Maintaining the optimal humidity level in your home can increase overall comfort when trying to fall asleep. Not only can it help relieve itching or throat irritation, but it can also create a “white noise” effect while operating during the night. This gentle hum has been shown to help people calm down and fall asleep. Using a humidifier while you sleep can also lower your chances of getting sick.
A study published in the research journal Plos One found that increasing indoor humidity levels to at least 43% had a drastic effect on approximately 85% of airborne viruses. The study showed that increasing the humidity level greatly reduced the chance of viruses spreading and the movement of germs. These airborne germs combine with moisture and become too heavy to float in the air. This is especially true for the common cold and flu.
A humidifier can also help if you're already sick. Dry air can cause a person to have a dry cough, which can keep you awake at night. Adding moisture to the air allows more moisture to enter the body, making coughing more productive and allowing you to sleep more peacefully. Skin, lips and hair often become dry and brittle in winter due to low air humidity.
This can often cause itchy skin, which can keep you awake at night. According to Harvard Health, dry skin is much more common with age; at least 75% of people over 64 have dry skin. Researchers believe this is because the skin loses its ability to retain moisture over time. Adding a humidifier to your home can help keep your skin and hair healthy.
While humidifiers offer a number of benefits, it's important to monitor the humidity level in your home. Excessive moisture levels can make breathing difficult and worsen some allergy symptoms. Common allergens, including dust mites, mold, and fungi, thrive in humid environments. According to the EPA, the ideal indoor humidity level should be between 30 and 50%.
Humidity levels above 60% are too high. You can easily monitor the humidity in your home with a humidity meter, or some thermostats have this feature built-in automatically for easy monitoring.Sleeping with a humidifier in the room can provide a multitude of benefits to overall sleep quality. In particular, raising relative humidity to optimal levels while you sleep can improve snoring and increase comfort for people suffering from sleep apnea. Thanks to Canopy's anti-fog technology, you can place your humidifier just a few inches from your bed without fear of water damage.But in fact, people who are prone to acne or breakouts will also notice an improvement in their skin when they put a humidifier in their room at night, according to dermatologist Marina Peredo, MD.
Humidifiers are effective in preventing moisture loss from the skin because when less moisture is present, air can sometimes draw moisture through the skin.A humidifier works by simply releasing water vapor (also known as steam) into the air to increase the overall humidity level of a room, which is especially useful during the winter months, when the air is usually drier; during the hot summer months, if the air conditioner is used at full volume; and in in general, in the drier parts of the country.In other words, simply by using household humidifiers for a relatively short period of time, experimenters were able to raise humidity levels to the point where the flu virus would be less likely to survive. When the humidifier device emits steam, the mineral deposits that remain on the surfaces create a thin white coating that looks like a white powder.Cold steam humidifiers tend to be evaporative (they produce humidified air) or ultrasonic (a high frequency agitates the water and releases droplets into the air). According to the Mayo Clinic, humidifiers work to prevent viruses, colds and allergies by adding moisture to the air, helping to relieve congestion.Hot steam humidifiers, on the other hand, add moisture to the air from boiling water through steam or water vapor. Basically, sleeping with a humidifier turned on keeps that moisture level replenished throughout the time you're in bed, benefiting your skin in more ways than one.If you like your room to be warm and cozy, using a humidifier can help you achieve those ideal sleeping conditions.
However, it's important to note that while humidifiers may seem like the best sleep aid, you only need to use them when needed.If you've ever thought that having a humidifier turned on in your room helps you sleep better, it might not be your imagination. If you wake up with a dry mouth, chances are you have low humidity in your home and you should consider investing in a humidifier.In addition to the health benefits in summer and winter, some people find that they simply sleep better with a humidifier turned on at night. Turning on a humidifier before going to sleep can help alleviate loud snoring by providing more moisture to these tissues.
