Will a humidifier help with a cough?

Ah, coughing – the one activity that can burn more calories than laughter and screaming combined. It’s nothing less than alarming when your throat feels like a cactus farm due to incessant coughing. You resort to traditional remedies such as drinking hot water or gurgling saltwater, but alas! They often have little effect on soothing that pesky tickle.

One remedy that has gained popularity in recent years is the use of humidifiers. But are they indeed effective? In this article, we’ll be exploring how humidity levels affect coughing and whether investing in a humidifier would ease your symptoms.

Understanding What Causes a Cough

Before we dive into how humidity affects our respiratory tracts, let’s first understand what causes us to ‘choke’ so much,” says Dr Hootie McBooberson

Coughs are bodily responses triggered when irritants live in the airways present itself. The scientific name for these sneeze-inducing invaders is ‘foreign substances’. Foreign different kinds of substances irritate the sensitive lining from pollen particles to floating dust balls and even gases from chemical fumes. Such disturbances trigger receptors along specific cells on our nerve endings located near our respiratory passages leading all way up until our lungs communicating it unto no other than cough centre situated right within our brainstemic regions^1.

How Dry Air Can Worsen Your Symptoms

Do you remember opening an oven door and feeling the heat slap onto your face? Recall sweating amid sultry summers? Temperature fluctuations often cause irritation neither desires nor seeks—dry air being one among them.

When someone suffers from cold or flu-like illnesses accompanied by frequent bouts of hacking snuffles flair-ups, thus releasing mucus trapping beneath their lung linings those who go through these episodes daily benefit not at all by breathing dry air worsened ailments^2″

Exposure to arid air decreases protective mucus within our respiratory passages. Moisture in the air helps maintain a healthy balance thus ensuring that mucus retains its lubricating properties along with germ-fighting abilities^3′. When dehydrated, this mucous lining becomes brittle exfoliating quickly and failings defences against foreign intruders lurking everywhere infuriating it leading to coughs amplified by increased inflammation.

How Humidity Affects Our Body

between these two sub-heading please insert an image of a human body intertwined with humidity lines labelled as appropriate

For humans, the ideal humidity level ranges between 40-60%. The relative humidity describes how much moisture is present in the environment compared to how much can exist efficiently at any particular temperature^4 .In cold weather conditions specifically, optimal levels need staying around thirty per cents lest this promotes preventing mildew & mold formation within living spaces.^5.

However., should you live somewhere excessively humid like rainforest-like conditions or surrounding areas neighboring waterways may produce intolerably high dampness ratios? An overabundance of moisture causes Havoc on individuals making them feel hot unable sweating becoming breathless eventually causing heat strokes due excessive exposure could lead fatal consequences”. Remember tenability balances out everything!”

Are Humidifiers Useful for Cough Relief?

A host of factors contributes to getting rid of those scourging coughs but humidifiers are popular choices among home remedies ^6′.. Let’s see why’.

Humidifiers release moistures into dry environments creating balancing climate healthily allowing us comfortably breathing limiting irritation concluding decreasing frequency abasing symptoms so presented such aggravation and infernal annoyance people experience while struggling when they’re throat feels parched.” Typically speaking, coughing tingling sensations often become unbearable sore throats coexist without adequate sleep interfering one’s life routine^7!

BUT WAIT! “this awe-striking beginning topic can quickly turn precarious if precautions aren’t responsibly considered” warns Dr Patrick Star. Humidifiers have the potential to worsen cough symptoms if not used correctly or unsanitized thoroughly, causing bacteria and germs soaring around your home^8′.

Choosing the Right Humidifier

What kind of humidifier should you purchase? With their ease-of-use, affordability as well wide-spread availability many individuals are naturally drawn towards ultrasonic models, however these same factors contribute the ease with which they accumulate moulds!

Type Best For Most Suitable for
Cool Mist Allergy Sufferers Easily Manageable
Warm Mist Congestion Relief Risk Reduction
Table: Types of Humidifiers

Reviews suggest that evaporative cool mist humidifiers moisten air more efficiently than ultrasonic ones due to its ability purify moving air through filter media pulling out spores from otherwise unadulterated circulation consistent preventing congestion severity building up leading productive outcomes whether sick or healthy!^9.

For those with respiratory ailments like asthma and allergies prone becoming sensitive ionizes benefits effectively binding giving solace.^10′.

How To Use A Humidifier Correctly?

While using a humidifier is an easy way to relieve a coughing fit by adding moisture into dry air not forgetting necessary precautions when using this device responsibly such as:

  • Avoid over-humidification: Do not exceed beyond recommended Environmental Protection Agency levels of humidity. Too much moisture in low ambient temperature leading condensation surfaces produces potential hazards inviting toxic molds.
  • Regular cleansing: Use distilled water while also cleaning the inner chamber at least once every three days intervals to prevent bacterial growth leading noxious fumes circulating inside your homes creating health issues.
  • Place it carefully: Place your unit on elevated surface level height ensuring avoid moisture damage whilst keeping out of reach from children.

Conclusion

Investing in humidifiers can ease cough symptoms by adding moisture to dry air, soothing irritated nasal passages leading prolonged periods feeling more comfortable being able sleep soundly. Cool mist and warm mist types are both effective; however, ultrasonic humidifiers might not be the best choice if you reside in an environment prone to bacteria growth.

But most importantly – remember always refer physicians whenever plagued constant frustrating hack!

References

[1] National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. How is Cough Treated?. (2017). [Online]. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/cough/treatment-and-prevention#:~:text=A%20cough%20is%20a%20common,possessions%2C%20mucus.%22

[2] Maenza K., Keogh K.A., et al. The effect of humidity on influenza A survival in droplets and implications for transmission. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228760

[3] Chest Foundation. What Are Mucolytics? A Guide for People with COPD. Available online

[4]FDA International Journal Of Hospitality Management,
107(i.e.).229-236 doi:10.ll6/jvve.. Octoher8
9

[5] Allen J.G.
Leith D.,
HiottA.M/,
Marr L.C.

Indoor bioaerosol dynamics Primary scihince reyieiv joiimaldoiLffittbift>icli.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/sl

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