There is a science to using a humidifier

Winter is here, and there is nothing more blissful than staying in a heated room and listening to the whistling north wind outside the window. The only drawback is dryness, but this is not a problem thanks to the presence of a humidifier that emits air.

First of all, it is worth affirming that a humidifier is definitely necessary

Zhang Hong, an expert in respiratory and critical care medicine at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, said that indoor humidification is still necessary in winter, especially for patients with some respiratory diseases. Their respiratory tracts may "lose water" in a dry environment, which can cause discomfort at the mildest and worsen the underlying disease at the worst. "For example, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is more common among the elderly, will suffer from 'water loss' in their respiratory tract, which will cause sputum to adhere to the tracheal-bronchial walls and make it difficult to cough out.

The longer the humidification time, the better

Many people are lazy and turn on the humidifier all day long. They think that the longer the humidifier is turned on, the higher the indoor humidity, the better. Zhang Hong said that in fact, the higher the relative humidity of the indoor environment is, the better.

To give a simple example, everyone feels very uncomfortable when they encounter a “sauna day” in the summer. The temperature is not too high on a “sauna day”, but the humidity is very high, often reaching 80 to 90%. In this case, the human body cannot sweat and feels uncomfortable. Generally speaking, the indoor humidity in winter is between 30% and 60%, which is a more appropriate "degree". Under this humidity, the human body feels generally good. At the same time, this humidity range is an ideal range for reducing the occurrence of diseases and indoor biological pollutants. If you feel that you cannot control the humidity well, you might as well buy a thermometer and hygrometer.

Humidification cannot only use tap water

According to experts, the common principles of humidifiers on the market include heating to generate water vapor and ultrasonic high-frequency vibrations to atomize water. The principle of heating to produce water vapor is actually the same as the principle of boiling water at home. When using this type of humidifier, the water must be distilled water, and never tap water or mineral water. Zhang Hong said that if tap water is used, the calcium ions in the water will fly all over the house along with the steam. Over time, all indoor objects will be covered with a layer of "white frost". This layer of "white frost" is actually calcium carbonate crystallized on the surface of the object. Therefore, when filling the humidifier with water, you should choose distilled water. The alternative to distilled water at home is purified water. Mineral water is not suitable for filling because it contains minerals such as calcium.

The humidifier and its surroundings need to be cleaned frequently

Zhang Hong specifically reminded that not only the humidifier should be cleaned frequently, but the walls, floors, furniture, etc. around the humidifier should also be wiped more frequently. This is because the humidity around the humidifier is relatively high. If it is not wiped dry, this overly humid local environment is conducive to the reproduction of fungi, which will then be blown to every corner of the room by the humidifier. Some people have allergic constitutions, and when the density of fungi, molds, etc. is too high, it may cause exogenous allergic alveolitis. Zhang Hong once treated such a patient. "Every time he used a humidifier at home, he would be sick for two days. The main symptoms included fever, cough, asthma, etc." Zhang Hong said that if alveolitis is not treated in time, it will lead to pulmonary fibrosis and cause more serious problems. Therefore, when using a humidifier, you should not only clean the humidifier regularly, but also keep the surrounding environment of the humidifier clean.