Is a humidifier good for rhinitis?

Many patients with rhinitis are deeply troubled because once they have rhinitis, they will often have a runny nose, sneezing, blocked nostrils and difficulty breathing. People with rhinitis will also have bad breath. Severe rhinitis can cause headaches, and surgery may be needed at this time. Some people think that placing a small air humidifier under the nose will make the air around the nose moist. So, is an air humidifier good for rhinitis?

Indoor air humidification can be done by sprinkling water, placing basins of water, etc., but the most convenient way is to use a humidifier. Many families have bought humidifiers and run them 24 hours a day. However, experts point out that humidifiers can increase the likelihood of respiratory diseases.

When using a humidifier, be sure to clean it regularly, otherwise the mold and other microorganisms in the humidifier will enter the air with the steam mist and then enter the human respiratory tract, making it easy to get humidifier pneumonia. In addition, the higher the air humidity is, the better. In winter, the humidity that the human body feels comfortable is about 50%. If the air humidity is too high, people will feel chest tightness and difficulty breathing, so it is better to humidify moderately.

In order to improve the dry indoor environment, many families use humidifiers. While people are enjoying the moist air, various indoor bacteria are also growing and multiplying in such an environment. These bacteria are the culprits that cause pneumonia and respiratory diseases.

This disease, which doctors call "humidifier pneumonia", is similar to the "air-conditioning disease" common in summer. Both are caused by harmful microorganisms entering the human respiratory tract through the air and causing inflammation.

Various microorganisms floating in the air and scattered in the dust and on objects will grow and multiply rapidly once the temperature and humidity are suitable. The elderly, children and other people with relatively weak resistance are prone to infection after inhaling bacteria. In addition to bacteria, common microorganisms indoors in winter include molds and actinomycetes, which can cause pneumonia or respiratory diseases. The cough and phlegm caused by these diseases can also accelerate the spread of bacteria.

Experts remind users to pay attention to the following points when using:

1. Patients with arthritis and diabetes should use air humidifiers with caution. Humid air can aggravate the symptoms of arthritis and diabetes, so it is generally not recommended for these patients. If such patients really need to use a humidifier to reduce the occurrence of some respiratory complications, they should consult with a specialist to determine the appropriate humidity in order to stabilize the condition of the primary disease.

2. Clean the humidifier regularly according to the instructions in the manual. If the humidifier itself is not hygienic, the germs will float in the air with the water vapor, which will also cause harm to human health.

3. Do not add tap water directly into the humidifier. Because tap water contains a variety of minerals, it will damage the evaporator of the humidifier, and the alkaline it contains will also affect its service life. Chlorine atoms and microorganisms in tap water may be blown into the air with water mist and cause pollution. If the tap water hardness is high, the water mist sprayed by the humidifier will contain calcium and magnesium ions, which will produce white powder and pollute the indoor air.

4. Adjust the humidity of the humidifier according to weather conditions and indoor and outdoor temperatures at any time. It is understood that many patients only adjust the humidity when they first buy an air humidifier, and rarely adjust it again after using it. This will greatly reduce the effect of the humidifier. Once it rains, the humidity indoors and outdoors rises, and the humidity of the humidifier is still not lowered, the humidity is increased invisibly, making people feel sticky and uncomfortable, which is not good for human health in the long run. If the weather becomes too dry and the humidity of the humidifier is still not adjusted up, the effect of the humidifier is weakened.