Humidifier for Asthma: Benefits, Cleaning, and More

People with asthma may find that symptoms worsen when the air they breathe is too dry. Humidifiers may help by adding more moisture to your home’s air circulation. However, there are certain factors to keep in mind when using a humidifier to relieve your asthma symptoms.Too much humidity isn’t ideal, either. If your humidifier puts too much moisture into the air, irritants like mold, dust mites, and other allergens can flourish. These particles often trigger asthma attacks or allergic reactions. Wet, heavy air may also be more difficult to breathe.

If you want to use a humidifier for asthma, finding a balance that doesn’t aggravate your symptoms is important. It’s also vital to maintain the device well and clean it regularly.

Read on to learn more about using humidifiers for asthma.

Humidifiers may relieve asthma symptoms for people who find that breathing dry air can aggravate Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Governmental authority Go to source their condition.

Humidifiers produce a warm or cool vapor mist that increases your home’s humidity. If there is too little humidity inside your home, your airway passages may become dry. Your nose and throat irritation can lead to discomfort and worsening asthma symptoms.

During the harsh winter months, the air is often dry, and heating systems can further decrease humidity levels. You may find it challenging to breathe outdoors.

For people with asthma triggered by dry air, increased moisture may help reduce breathing difficulties. However, there is currently no clear medical consensus on whether humidifiers decrease asthma symptoms.

Learn more about 10 common asthma triggers.

A humidifier might benefit those people for whom dry air adversely affects their breathing and respiratory systems. But for others, putting too much moisture into the air can have some negative health effects.

For example, high humidity levels can promote mold growth in your home and exacerbate allergies. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends keeping your home’s humidity levels under 60%, ideally between 30–50%, to prevent mold growth.

If you do not regularly clean your humidifier, the device may harbor mildew, bacteria, and fungi. Research from 2022 Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source described 2 cases of “humidifier lung,” an inflammatory lung condition caused by exposure to humidifiers containing fungi.

When using the humidifier, the device releases particles into the air. In addition to substances that may grow in the device, the vapor mist can release anything you put into or use on your humidifier. This can include cleaning products containing irritating chemicals and mineral-laden tap water that can negatively affect respiratory health.

Aside from irritants the humidifier releases, high humidity levels may also trigger asthma symptoms. If there is too much moisture in the air, it becomes heavy, which may make breathing more difficult.

To regulate humidity levels, avoid running your humidifier nonstop or on too high of a setting.

Learn more about how asthma affects the respiratory system.

The EPA lays out a few different types of humidifiers, including:

Each humidifier has advantages and disadvantages regarding effectiveness, maintenance, and precautions.

Consider the pros and cons of each humidifier and how they align with your personal needs and preferences. Some factors to consider can include:

Your individual needs can guide your choice of humidifiers. For example, you may want a model that is easy to clean and includes a timer if you are looking for the most convenient option. Various humidifier options range in cost and specifications.

It’s essential to follow all the manufacturer’s guidelines for cleaning to minimize the risks associated with humidifiers, such as mold and bacteria growth. The tips below can also help you keep your humidifier clean.

Learn more about 6 asthma-friendly products for the home.

Humidifiers may help relieve asthma symptoms by increasing the humidity level in the air. Dry environments due to weather or heating symptoms can often benefit from a humidifier.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that too much humidity in the air may worsen asthma symptoms. Therefore, regulating your home’s humidity levels is imperative so the air is not too moist or dry.

Proper cleaning and maintenance of your humidifier can also help ensure it is not triggering asthma symptoms due to deposits, buildup, or the vaporization of irritants.