Humidifier lung: can develop by breathing in fungus growing in humidifiers, air conditioners and heating systems, particularly if they are not well maintained. Hot tub lung: may develop by breathing in bacteria that may be found in the water vapor coming from indoor hot tubs.
The symptoms usually clear up in a day or two if there is no more exposure to the reaction-causing material. Complete recovery, however, may take weeks.
Under appropriate exposure conditions susceptible individuals may succumb to an episode of humidifier fever, an influenza-like illness with pyrexia and malaise as the main symptoms, but cough, chest tightness, dyspnoea and weight loss may also be seen.
Hydrogen Peroxide. An antibacterial and anti-fungal, hydrogen peroxide is inexpensive and works very well. Half a teaspoon in the water reservoir every time you fill it should prevent mold from growing and bacteria.
White vinegar has antibacterial and anti-microbial properties, so it is another cheap and effective humidifier additive to prevent mold. A cup of vinegar added to the water tank when you fill it is more than enough to eliminate mold growth.
These small crevices can get moldy quite quickly if they are not cared for correctly or cleaned thoroughly. In fact, mold can start to form inside of a humidifier in as little as two days!
Increased humidity may ease breathing in children and adults who have asthma or allergies, especially during a respiratory infection such as a cold. But mist from a dirty humidifier or increased growth of allergens caused by high humidity can trigger or worsen asthma and allergy symptoms.
If you have allergies or an existing asthma condition, regularly inhaling these impurities can aggravate your symptoms or cause a full-on attack. A more serious side effect is a little-known illness called humidifier lung.
Specifically, we recommend that you keep your humidifier at a distance of around 3 feet from your bed – although there's no inherent harm in placing it closer, if you're restricted on room. This distance is recommended for a variety of reasons.
How Do I Know if My Humidifier is Making Me Sick? If you are experiencing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, skin irritation, headaches, or flu-like symptoms, and they seem to worsen when you are using your humidifier, there is a possibility that your humidifier could be making you sick.
Humidifiers release moisture into the air, which keeps the nasal and upper respiratory passages from getting too dry. This can help you breathe easier when you have a runny nose, chest congestion, cough, or sore throat.
Heat and humidity can affect your breathing, especially if you have asthma or COPD. On very hot, humid days, especially days that have high levels of air pollution or smog, stay indoors. Find an indoor place that's cool. Make sure the place you choose has clean air – this means no tobacco smoke or harsh scents.
Using a humidifier while you sleep has some health benefits that are apparent. For example, you will notice that you struggle less with dry skin, sinus problems, bloody noses, and cracked lips. You may also feel some relief from congestion if you have a cold. There are less obvious benefits as well.
Despite all the health benefits, there are also some risks associated with using a humidifier. For example, it is actually possible that a room can have too much moisture. If your humidifier is set too high, it can result in the proliferation of dust mites which can trigger allergy symptoms.
Many people automatically use tap water in a humidifier as it is easy and accessible but this does not come recommended by manufacturers. This is because tap water contains many invisible minerals, including magnesium, which can create buildup in your humidifier, resulting in limescale and mould.
While using a humidifier can help with dry sinuses, it can also cause harm. Dust mite and mold growth is promoted more in humid environments, so if people are allergic to dust and mold, or if they have asthma, using a humidifier could aggravate these conditions.
Overall, humidifiers are safe to keep overnight when you're asleep. It's beneficial and helpful in many ways. It'll help your skin, lowers infection risk, and you'll sleep better at night.
If you're monitoring the humidity levels in your home, it's relatively safe to run your humidifier around the clock. You should take special care not to leave anything running while you're out of the house. However, just because it's safe doesn't mean that it's necessary.
Reactions can be particularly bad in people with asthma or allergies. “They can have increased congestion, cough, even wheezing,” Richel said.
While a humidifier can add moisture to the air, it is not designed to remove pollutants or allergens. If you want to improve the air quality in your home or office, an air purifier is a better choice.
A cool-mist humidifier may help soothe cough and congestion symptoms. Moisture in the air can thin and loosen mucus, helping you to have more productive coughs and be less congested.