Is it okay to turn on the humidifier at night?

The weather is hot in the summer. Even at night, you can feel the hot air blowing on your face. Many families cannot stand the hot weather and install air conditioners at home. The cool air of the air conditioner will make you feel refreshed. However, always using the air conditioner has an impact on the human body and air pollution. In this case, you will choose an air humidifier to lower the temperature. So, is it good for your body to turn on the air humidifier at night?

Respiratory doctors say that 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.

If the air humidifier is not used correctly, it will also cause certain harm to the human body. 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.

The humidifier should be cleaned once a week

According to experts, the water in the humidifier should be changed every day, and it is best to clean it once a week to prevent microorganisms in the water from spreading into the air. When cleaning, gently scrub with a soft brush, wipe the sink and sensor with a soft cloth, fill the water tank with water, shake it a few times and pour it out. If the humidifier is not used for a long time, drain the water in the water tank, clean and dry all parts before storing it. What kind of humidifier to buy should be selected based on the needs of your home, such as whether there are elderly people or children.

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.

It is understood that the human body will feel good when the humidity is around 40% to 60%. Once the air humidity is lower than 20%, the amount of inhalable particulate matter in the room increases, making it easy for people to catch a cold. When the air humidity is 55%, it is difficult for germs to spread, but if the air humidity is too high, such as exceeding 90%, it will cause discomfort to the human respiratory system and mucous membranes, and reduce immunity. It is especially harmful to the elderly, and may induce influenza, asthma, bronchitis and other diseases in the elderly.