Have you ever noticed how the air becomes dry in the winter? This can make your Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) worse. Perhaps you know the best solution to protect your lungs from harsh winds is to cover your nose and mouth with a scarf while outside.
What about when you’re inside? Even though it’s not windy in your living room, the naturally dry winter air can still irritate your lungs and worsen your symptoms when you're living with COPD. The solution to bone-dry indoor air may be to start using a humidifier.
What Is Humidity?
Healthline defines humidity as the amount of water vapor in the air. Too little humidity in the winter leaves your skin, nose and throat feeling irritated and dry. Too much humidity can harbor mold and dust mites, which certainly doesn’t make living with COPD easier. The key is to strike the perfect balance, which another Healthline article identifies as 40 percent humidity.
Which Type of Humidifier Is Best?
From portable units to whole-house systems, humidifiers are great at countering the dry air your furnace pumps into the room. With multiple types and sizes to choose from, how do you select the perfect one?
According to an article published by registered nurse Jennifer Serafin at Caring.com, a portable humidifier with an evaporative or "cool mist" version is especially helpful. She recommends that you change the water daily to prevent contamination. If the humidifier comes with a filter, you should change that in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, as well.
Whole-house humidifiers are another option. The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute states that these are incorporated into the heating system so the air exiting supply registers is humid. Whole-house options evenly humidify the entire home, and they also have a built-in humidistat to measure the relative humidity and keep it at the ideal 40 percent.
With more moisture in the air, you should find it easier to breathe comfortably at home this winter.
