In this article we are going to look at the effect of low humidity on human health. Not many know over dehumidifying our home air has side effect. Even if you don’t dehumidified, there are others factors that can cause low indoor humidity which include colder temperature and winter.
According to Dr. Mercola, humidity is the amount of vapor present in air. This health variable is an important health factors that is sometimes overlook yet could be remedy without much hassle. Generally, ideal indoor humidity level should be within the range of 40 to 60%, even though some expertise said it can also near 35 and 45 percent.
During summer when the humidity is higher, it can add up to mold growths, fungus and dust mites. This situation is highly vulnerable to allergies and asthma patient. On the other hand low humidity is also dangerous and may result to more health complication.
Here are dangers to watch out for in low winter humidity:
During winter month, cold temperatures and heaters usage practically leads to dry air resulting low humidity. The dry air that occurs can cause different health ailment such as dry skin, nasal congestion, and itchy eyes and irritated skin.
As time proceeds, the longer you stay in low humidity environment your mucous membrane lining can get dry out. When this abnormalities happen in your respiratory tracts, your chances of contacting flu, colds and similar infections increases. In addition, certain viruses survive longer in low humidity, further heightening your risk of getting an infected.
For example, in a study by some researchers, it was found that flu virus live longer and spread faster in low humidity environment. Nasal congestion can be linked to cold temperature and dry air inhaled more than any other of the variable as summarized by the study.
The finding according to these researchers reflects interaction between humidity and temperature influences nasal cooling as the air passes through one’s nasal cavity. This cooling is detected by the nasal sensors, which induce the sensation of air-passage either being easy or blocked the cooler air leading to less obstruction feeling.
While too much humidity can result to sinuses congestion, low humidity (very dry air) is known to increasing congestion feelings because dry sinus membranes can distort your nostrils the more. Depending on your home air situation, if your home air is too dry, increasing it may be the next option.
How low humidity damage your eyes and skin?
Those suffering from dry eyes, low humidity could be the responsible factor since it is discovered to increase tears evaporation. This may interrupt imbalance of moisture needed for healthy eye surface.
When colder temperature combines with reduced humidity, this creates havoc on the skin. Many people experience dry, scale and itchy skin during winter seasons even though they have not be diagnosed for skin ailment like eczema before.
This situation is known as winter itch that result from moisture depletion from the skin. Apart from the itching of the skin, dry air causes skin dehydration leaving behind small cracks on your skin surface.
Though it is uncommon for infectious agents to cause a problem on your skin (it becomes only a problem if it is transfer to the mouth or nose). Having cracked skin thus increase your chances of becoming sick by allowing an entry way for potential harmful pathogens via the skin cracked.
This is particularly true in arid environment and in the winter months where relative humidity levels always fall below 10%. According to a study by Environmental Health Perspectives keeping the right humidity levels can help drop rates of allergies and respiratory diseases.
The lion shares of health effects induced by low humidity can be controlled by making sure indoor humidity is between 40 – 60 percent. However, this requires humidifying your home during winter in cold winter areas. To achieve this, you would need to use a steam or evaporative humidifiers.
How to Increase Humidity When Experiencing Dry Air?
Excessively dry home air would likely expose you to dry skin or dry throat. Sometimes you may also notice that your houseplants is getting dry, wallpaper peeling or feeling of static electricity, all these are the effects of dry air.
Home with wooden floors or furniture, reduced humidity can make them lose water and contract, contributing to cracks or divisions at the edge. It should also be known while low humidity is common during winter period, low humidity is also common in dry climates or at summer referable to overused of air conditioning unit. So, add humidity indoor, you can do the following:
- Use a humidifier or vaporizer.
- Take a hot a bath by creating a steam bath or simply fill the sink with hot water, and then lean over the sink with a tower around your head.
- Inhale the steam from a hot tea cup
- place a bowl of water in your home
Humidifier Tips: Be Careful Not to Make Your Air Too Humid:
In as much you are trying to drive away dry air from indoor by adding moisture, be sure not to overdo it. Too high humidity favors molds growth which could affects your health.
In addition, an increased humidity environment is a thriving condition for fungi and bacteria, which released by the unit through the toxic mist you later inhale.
Study concludes, breathing in dirty mist released by humidifiers can result to lungs issues, and infection. It is has been detected that humidifier usage is linked to high risks of children developing asthma. As noted above, excess indoor moisture increases the rate of mold development that releases toxins in your air that wouldn’t like to breath.
Agreeing with former president of American Holistic Medical Association, Dr. Robert Ivker, says the recommended relative humidity for sinus condition is between 35 to 45 percent. This range is highly encouraged to prevent mold harm in the home.
As long using a whole house humidifier is good, cleaning it often at least four times monthly is required. To clean it, you can use hydrogen peroxide in order to get rid of mineral deposits. The water in the humidifier tank should be replaced every day. Making sure that the area such as your table tops, carpets, windows, curtains where it is mounted is kept dry.
Resolving Tips for Dry Winter Skin:
Dry skin is common with low humidity areas. So to maintain the integrity of your skin including your mucous membrane, you can use krill oil gotten from omega 3 fat. Additionally, drinking lots of water will keep the body system hydrated leaving your skin glowing.
Studies have shown that omega 3 fat normalizes skin fats. It also prevents dehydration in the skin cells which make the skin full of moisture helping to decreasing visual aspect of fine lines. Furthermore, omega 3 fats also help to prevents skin irritation, giving you smoother, clearer complexion. So if battling dry skin, taking omega 3 fats will improve the situation. You may consider increasing your intake of it in the colder dry winter months.
Another remedy for skin dryness is coconut oil. Using this oil acts as a natural moisturizer on your skin. When you apply coconut oil, it will be absorbed by the skin tissues thus help to eliminate fine lining that do appear the skin surface. Individual having dead skin problems, coconut oil helps to grow new outer layer making your skin look young and smoother.
Conclusion
Various studies have show that low humidity has adverse effect on health likewise high humidity as well. We believe with this, you are able to learn few things about relative humidity. Talking about some of its causes, how it affects our health and the possible things you can do to reduce its effect. Over all maintaining indoor humidity between 40 – 60 percent is beneficial to healthy skin and out general health in view.
About Writer
Freddie Eddie is a Statistician and content writer. He loves writing and disseminating information as part of his little contribution to humanity. He is the founder of Pregnancy Wikipedia Connect us @ facebook page
