Will a Humidifier Help My Asthma?

Sleeping next to a humidifier or a vaporizer when we have a bad cold is not only commonly recommended, but for many of us brings back warm memories of when we were kids and our moms fussed over us when we were sick. Those were the good old days and probably no one has given us as much special attention as our gentle mothers did when we were ill and small. However, if you or your child has asthma, using a humidifier or a vaporizer may not necessarily be a wise move. In fact, The Asthma Society of Canada does not recommend the use of humidifiers or vaporizers for the treatment of asthma. 

If the air in your house is dry, causing dry skin and nosebleeds, a humidifier may be appropriate, but with very careful monitoring. When the humidity in a room reaches 45%, it is recommended that you shut the humidifier off at that point, especially if you have asthmatics living in the house. When humidity levels exceed 45%, your house becomes a perfect place for the breeding of moulds, bacteria, and dust mites. These are common triggers for asthma attacks. 

During those times when you temporarily use a humidifier or vaporizer, it is very important that you strive to keep them as clean as possible. That means emptying them at the end of every day and rinsing them thoroughly. Never let the water stand around as it quickly becomes a breeding ground for those pesky triggers. 

Other things to remember include: 

·         Deep clean the device a few times a week with either bleach or hydrogen peroxide to remove any mineral deposits. 

·         Use distilled water instead of tap water. 

·         Change filters on a regular basis. 

Some doctors even suggest that you should replace your humidifier with a new one at the beginning of each winter season. It is very important to avoid introducing irritants and other airborne triggers into your home environment. If someone in your house suffers from asthma make sure to seek proper medical care. Your health care provider may prescribe different asthma control medicines such as generic Advair. Lifestyle changes and the development of an appropriate treatment plan will be important in order to successfully manage the symptoms of asthma. 

Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Asthma is clinically classified according to the frequency of symptoms, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow rate. Asthma may also be classified as atopic (extrinsic) or non-atopic (intrinsic). 

It is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Treatment of acute symptoms is usually with an inhaled short-acting beta-2 agonist (such as salbutamol). Symptoms can be prevented by avoiding triggers, such as allergens and irritants, and by inhaling corticosteroids. Leukotriene antagonists are less effective than corticosteroids and thus less preferred. 

Its diagnosis is usually made based on the pattern of symptoms and/or response to therapy over time. The prevalence of asthma has increased significantly since the 1970s. As of 2010, 300 million people were affected worldwide. In 2009 asthma caused 250,000 deaths globally.