Does Humidity Make Allergies Worse

Pollen Mites And Pet Allergy Sufferers Can Breathe A Sigh Of Relief Air Humidity Helps Them All

House dust is the biggest trigger of allergies worldwide. Anyone who is allergic to house dust reacts to either mite constituents or animal allergens with complaints such as sneezing, eye irritations or asthma. Together with pollen allergy sufferers, these people experience symptoms when exposed to airborne, allergy-triggering substances, known as allergens.

Pollen allergy sufferers know what alleviates their complaints: rain, humid air and the absence of wind. House dust allergy sufferers experience significantly pronounced complaints during the dry hot period. The experts say to them: Be careful with humidity 30 or 40 percent is better than 50 percent! Is that right?

It is logical that only the proportion of house dust that is present in the air can be responsible for complaints and illness. This proportion is difficult to measure. One year ago a study was published for the first time, in which the quantity of mite allergens effectively breathed in by 10 individuals during normal activities was measured over 24 hours . The study shows that the quantity breathed in primarily depends on those personal activities that lead to dust turbulence. When the activity is low , a minimum of mite allergens is breathed in. Among people who are engaged in physical movement and activity, the concentration in the air they breathe in rises by over a thousand times!

Tovey ER et al, Time-Based Measurement of Personal Mite Allergen Bioaerosol Exposure over 24 Hour Periods, PLoS ONE, 2016

The Weather: Wreaking Havoc On Health

The weather forecast may be a strong predictor of how you’re going to feel.

We all know people who blame the weather for their achy joints, killer headaches, and many other health woes. But proving these claims has been a bit more elusive.

In recent years, however, scientists have become increasingly interested in attempting to understand just how various weather extremes and changing patterns affect our health. Many experts say that weather does account for some adverse health symptoms.

WebMD talked to experts to learn just what is known about weather’s role on our health and what we can do to minimize its mighty influence.

Humidifier Types & How They Keep Your Allergies Away

Another important factor to consider when answering the question how do humidifiers help with allergies? is the humidifier type. There are several different types of humidifiers to choose from, including warm mist, cool mist, evaporative, ultrasonic, and whole house.

While each of these humidifier types can help with allergies, they all work in different ways to do that.

Warm Vs Cool Mist Humidifiers

Cool and warm mist humidifiers both pump moisture into the air, but this moisture is released at different temperatures. Because both increase humidity levels, you cant go wrong with either.

However, steer away from warm mist or steam humidifiers if you have kids or pets in the home these could be potentially dangerous.

Evaporative Vs Ultrasonic Humidifier

Evaporative and ultrasonic humidifiers use different methods for releasing humidity. Evaporative models turn water into vapor either by using a fan and wick system or turning the water molecules into steam.

Ultrasonic machines use high-frequency vibrations to release water droplets into the air. Both types have pros and cons, but since they both increase humidity, each type can be used for allergy relief.

Whole House Humidifier

If your entire home suffers from low humidity levels, a whole house humidifier could be the answer. Rather than pumping moisture into a single room, these models are powerful enough to handle large square footage. That means you can alleviate your allergies in every room of your home.

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Why Does Heat And Humidity Affect Me So Much

When the air has a high moisture content, as is the case in humid weather, this sweat cannot evaporate, leaving our bodies feeling hot and sticky. To cool off, our bodies must work even harder. This results in excessive sweating, increased rate and depth of blood circulation and increased respiration.

What Is An Allergy

An allergy is when the immune system overreacts to substances in the environment that are usually harmless to people. These substances are called allergens and are found in dust mites, pollens, molds etc. When the allergen encounters an allergic person, it triggers an allergic response causing discomfort and symptoms.

Climate change has led to long summers accompanied by high humidity. Humidity is the vaporized water contained in the air. The current temperature along with the amount of vaporized water is known as relative humidity.

As a result of prolonged high humidity levels, there is a rise in the number of people developing allergies.

There was a time when sneezing and coughing were considered as diseases and earned visits to the doctor. Nowadays, it is common to see people with allergies saying things like, Oh, it is just the allergy, You know how it is. Almost everyone has a runny nose, coughing or sneezing problem in the morning., The runny nose will go away once the weather gets better.

Usually, these allergies are linked to the seasons, but the underlying cause is the humidity during these seasons. Our attention is always directed towards the hot summers or the cold winters so we do not pay much attention to the allergy symptoms. We counter it by popping some pills or waiting the season out. Too much or too little humidity, both cause allergies.

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Are Allergies Worse When Humid

Humidity has been primarily linked to one of the most common allergens mold. Mold create an odor and irritate your sinus. Hot humid weather creates swelling in the nasal cavity, triggering congestion and pressure. Some symptoms of allergies affected by humid weather are watery eyes, sneezing, running nose and more.

Home Humidity Levels Can Trigger Allergy Symptoms

Indoor humidity levels are an important factor in keeping allergy symptoms at bay. If the indoor humidity is above 50%, it can encourage dust mites, cockroaches and even mold growth. These potent allergy triggers can be greatly reduced if humidity is kept below 50%. A home dehumidifier can help lower indoor humidity levels. When indoor humidity is too dry, less than 30%, it causes dry nasal passages, skin and throat which can be troublesome for many people. Air that is too dry will cause dust mites, mold and bacteria to dry out and become airborne which could be inhaled. Using a home humidifier can help bring humidity levels up to the optimum range which is between 40-50%. Keeping home air levels within the recommended range will greatly reduce allergy symptoms for most allergy sufferers.

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Why Does Humidity Make My Allergies Worse

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What Can You Do

Fortunately, humidity issues in the home are quite simple to remedy. An inexpensive “hygrometer” can be used to identify potential problems.

Once you know that your air is either too dry or too humid, the purchase of a humidifier or dehumidifier is a simple solution. We have a few suggestions based upon our research and experience in humidifiers:

• We recommend a duct-mounted whole house furnace humidifier if you have a forced-air heating system
• Avoid “sponge” and evaporative pad type humidifiers, as the pads and sponges quickly lose evaporative efficiency in the presence of hard water minerals and sediments – this in turn causes the water to stagnate and for the pad and reservoir to become breeding grounds for mold and bacteria, making your problems worse
• Flow-through humidifier models are better than sponge and evaporative pad types, but they can waste large volumes of water and require frequent maintenance, especially if you have hard water
• Countertop or console-style humidifiers should ideally be equipped with UV sterilizers to kill the bacteria and other microbiological allergens that can build up in the water reservoirs
• No matter what brand or model you choose, maintain it to the manufacturer’s specifications and clean it regularly.
• Regardless of which humidifier unit you select, you should be sure that it is equipped with a humidistat to allow for precise humidity control and to ensure that you do not over-humidify your living space.

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How To Improve Air Quality And Reduce Allergy Symptoms

Taking a few basic steps can improve the indoor air quality in your home and reduce the frequency and severity of allergy flare-ups.

• Keep it clean. Vacuum carpets, rugs and upholstery. Wipe down hard surfaces with a damp cloth. Allergens in the air eventually settle, and cleaning removes them from your house. If you do not clean, eventually they will get kicked back up into the air again. A vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter will do a better job of trapping allergens and other particles.
• Keep the windows closed. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, keep your windows closed and turn on the air-conditioning when your allergies are at their worst. We usually suggest opening windows, because fresh outdoor air is almost always cleaner than indoor air, but in this case you want to keep pollen outside.
• Use an air purification system. This could include a filter on your HVAC system or a portable air purifier.

Using a humidifier in the dry winter months is a good idea, as it will keep your skin, nose and throat from becoming dry and cracked. It will also ease some of your allergy symptoms. It is very important to use the humidifier correctly, however, keeping humidity levels between 40 and 60 percent, and cleaning the humidifier regularly to avoid contamination.

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Ideal Humidity Levels For Health

Humidity is the measure of moisture in the air. Too dry and it can cause the skin to dry out and the lining in the nose and throat to become dry.

Too damp and it can create a stuffy feeling and spur mold, bacteria, and dust mite growth. Its tough to find the perfect balance!

According to the Mayo Clinic, humidity levels are most comfortable between 30-50%.

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Can Rainy Weather Cause Shortness Of Breath

If you feel like you get winded easier when it rains, its not your imagination. Dr. Pien says its very possible, especially for people with asthma and COPD.

Rainy weather can cause shortness of breath. Its most likely when there are changes in humidity, temperature and pollen. And these changes can affect people with asthma and COPD, says Dr. Pien.

Air Quality In Your Home

Voting and purchasing decisions are two areas where you can have a say in lowering air pollution. More directly, you can take steps in your home to ensure you and your family have access to Healthy Air.

The is a comprehensive, all-in-one solution that provides a blueprint for creating a Healthy Home environment in three key areas: fresh air ventilation, air filtration, and humidity control.

1. Fresh air ventilation: Fresh air ventilation removes stale, stagnant air from your home and replaces it with fresh air from the outdoors.

2. Air filtration: Air filtration works with your homes HVAC system to remove harmful particles like dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and mold spores from the air circulating in your home.

3. Humidity control: Aprilaire whole-house humidifiers and dehumidifiers keep the humidity level of your home between 40% and 60% for optimal health and comfort.

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Are you and your family breathing the best air possible?

Air quality can vary based on where you live, and each region of the country deals with certain risk factors throughout the year.

Bringing in fresh air from the outdoors is an important part of creating a Healthy Air environment in your home. Crucial to that ventilation process is filtering out pollution and allergens before distributing the air throughout your home.

The State of Your AirWere shining a light on the link between local weather and air quality.

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Does A Humidifier Help With Allergies

If you suffer from seasonal or pet-related allergy issues then help is often needed. We explore if a humidifier helps with allergies & to buy one.

July 19, 2021by Josh M

Theres no doubt about the fact that humidifiers are great for bringing moisture back into a dry home. If you live in a dry climate or youre suffering from wintertime dryness, then investing in a humidifier is the way to go.

But did you know that a humidifier can be used for more than just general dryness? Some of the best humidifiers are used for allergy relief, and many sources claim that a humidifier can remedy several different types of allergies.

In this guide, well explore the question we all want to know the answers to: does a humidifier help with allergies?

Ideal Home Humidity And How To Keep It There

We recommend a relative humidity level between 40% and 50% for most homes, particularly for those with people who struggle with allergies, asthma, or eczema. Many humidifiers and dehumidifiers have built-in hygrometers, or humidity gauges, so the unit will shut off once optimal humidity levels are achieved. However, a stand-alone digital humidity gauge allows you to monitor humidity when you are not running a unit or when you need to check an area that may not yet be receiving humidification or dehumidification treatment.

One of the easiest ways to help keep excess humidity in check is to run a dehumidifier in your home. Dehumidifiers come in all shapes and sizes, but they all do the same thingremove moisture from the air. While its important to note that modern air conditioners often remove some amount of moisture, this is not their primary task, and relying on an air conditioner to reduce the relative humidity in your space can often result in conditions that are conducive to the growth of mold. Air can be cooled yet still feel sticky due to high relative humidity. A dehumidifier was specifically designed for the task of removing moisture, and finding the right one for your situation can make all the difference in maintaining healthy humidity levels and a healthy home.

For more information on controlling home humidity and allergies, and how humidity can impact your health,

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Common Types Of Home Allergies Explained

Before understanding how a humidifier helps with allergies, its important to know what type of allergy youre actually suffering from. This is because a humidifier can help with some types of allergies, but not all.

For instance, if youre suffering from a food allergy or insect allergy, then a humidifier wont do much for you. But if your allergies are triggered by seasonal dryness or dust mites, then yes, a humidifier could potentially help your case.

Heres a quick breakdown of the 5 most common types of allergies in the home that can be affected by humidity levels:

Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies are triggered by a change of seasons. Many people assume that seasonal allergies are only common in the spring when pollen in the air increases, but this isnt the case.

Wintertime is another major trigger because humidity levels drop, causing dryness and itching, and a humidifier can help with seasonal allergies.

Cat & Dog Allergies

If youre suffering from allergies triggered by pet dander, youre probably looking for answers to questions like can a humidifier help with cat allergies? and do humidifiers help with dog allergies?

If youre suffering from allergies triggered by pet dander, youre probably looking for answers to questions like can a humidifier help with cat allergies? and do humidifiers help with dog allergies?

Skin Allergies

Humidity & Dust Mite Allergies

Dust mites thrive in certain environments, and moisture plays a significant role in this.

Treat The Underlying Problem

If youre at your wits end with your allergies, moving to or from a certain location may not be the answer. At Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat, we will create a specific plan for you and your needs to help you tackle your allergies once and for all. Call to schedule a consultation in the Savannah, GA area.

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