Can cool mist humidifier cause cough?

Humidifiers are a life-saver for many people, especially during the dry winter months when your skin and throat can feel like parchment paper caught in a tumble dryer. They add moisture to the air helping you breathe easy, and keep coughs at bay. However, some humidifiers may end up exacerbating the very thing they were meant to prevent – coughing.

In this article, we’ll dive into whether or not cool mist humidifiers can cause coughs and what steps you can take to avoid them. Let’s get started!

What is a Cool Mist Humidifier?

A “cool mist” version of these devices uses ultrasonic vibrations which convert water into an invisible vapor via high-frequency sound waves. Unlike warm-mist versions that hold heated water over a heating element aided by boiling it creating steam & release it once cooled down again.

These days most of us have moved on from solely purchasing hot steaming models due to safety concerns around kids coming too close & being burned if knocked over unnecessarily / left running unattended., while also being less energy-efficient than cold evaporation based systems (aka ‘cool’ ones).

Cool mist models feel more refreshing since they don’t use heat or specialized equipment unlike their warmer counterparts whose process creates mineral deposits inside causing problematic issues unless cleaned promptly.

Before we dive deeper into whether cool-mist humidifiers can cause or alleviate allergies directly; It’s important that we first understand how humidity affects our respiratory system as well as lung function

Your body functions best at its optimal level given everything else is working fine — temperature & humidity included (with 40-60% indoor relative humidity regarded as ideal). When humidity drops below certain thresholds, our nasal passages may dry out/crack leading to inflammation enervating activity inside one’s immune system i.e see symptom like;

  • Chronic cough
  • Tightness in chest
  • Painful breathing
    & more..

So how could cool-mist humidifiers end up exacerbating the very thing they were meant to prevent/cure?

Yes – They can. Hang on, aren’t these devices supposed to ease respiratory issues like dry skin, allergies or coughs? Well, not all of them do so effortlessly…

In fact: when used incorrectly cool mist humidifiers might worsen your situation especially if someone exposed to / asthmatically triggered by mold/mildew allergens often releasing from sources lurking out joyfully somewhere within our houses/apartments.

Now here are a few reasons how/why you may experience increased signs of irritation through using one:

  1. Over-Humidification

While it is vital that we keep indoor air sufficiently moistened; too much humidity’s also bad news!

Over-humidifying spaces overfilling susceptible surfaces with constant dampness signifies breeding homes for bacteria/fungi leading to common exacerbators like sinusitis/allergic rhinitis just as effectively/allergically-triggered asthma –all while creating environments where bacteria and other illnesses thrive quickly.

  1. Mineral Deposits

Mineral deposits remaining after evaporation causes white hydrophilic dust lingering closeby in every room due to being lightweight lacking any magnetic properties sticking onto metals/inanimate surface areas easily interfering sensitive lung function causing sore throat on breathing attempts post-exposure! Regular cleaning required although still somewhat guilit-worthy culprits caught red handed…

  1. Mold And Bacteria Growth

Cool mist humidifiers somehow end up becoming breeding grounds for dormant bacteria & viruses thriving off high moisture levels promoting tough-to-breathe situations triggering worsening allergy symptoms/making pre-existing spasms worse … Or franky put creating havoc …maybe time for an early season Vaccination?

  1. Cleaning & Maintenance

To prevent the growth of bacteria/mold/illnesses, it’s important to keep your cool mist humidifier clean and that it doesn’t take on a life of its own! Replace water frequently — may times causing serious mold issues – this is especially true if you don’t have an effective filter/water treatement system fitted..

Certain filters are able to control mineral build-up while removing other impurities before releasing air again for better breathing opposed to feeling polluting all while saving energy!

Remember always follow manufacturer specifications properly when cleaning/disinfecting device (this minimizes potential exposure under controlled conditions).

  1. Optimal Usage

Maintain optimal humidity levels at 40-60% indoor range; too much or too little creates problematic situations in which viruses/throat-drying effect happens aggresively.

For best usage: maintain highest distance possible from nearest human presence, and avoid allowing excess spillage or saturation remaining in & around unaffected area after use …it takes only one wrong drop.

  1. Water Quality Is Important

Always fill humidifiers with purified/de-mineralised water as tapwater contains several contaminations/etc detrimental to lung health over time. Using untreated water could be potentially hazardous !

On a side note: Adding salt/botanical extracts—used commonly these days— can turn detrimentall adding unnecessary irritants until further consistently studied/some might say ‘deemed appropriate for general public usage’.

Conclusion

In conclusion, cool-mist humidifiers are generally safe machines that can help alleviate respiratory illnesses like coughs due if used carefully & hygienically., they also mentionably aid preserved lung function indoors = active Life!

However,, asthmatic prone individuals should pay more attention than others since unchecked spores/particles serves organic inhalatory hazards so It’s unspeakably important that we keep all humidifiers clean, don’t over-humidify and fill with demineralized water alongside following above guidelines ensuring most straightforwardly maintained humidity levels when installed in private or public settings avoiding too much dampness.

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