Introduction
Asthma is a condition that is tricky to manage. One moment you are okay and the next minute you are barely breathing if not coughing or sneezing uncontrollably. It requires the right environment with the right humidity. A little too moist and you have problems and a little too dry and you have problems. As such, a person managing asthma requires the right equipment that can help him or her regulate the moisture in his or her surroundings. This is where humidifiers and vaporizers come in. There is little difference between these two and the purpose they serve in helping to manage asthma attacks. You have to figure out which one is the best option lest you end up with more problems than you had in the first place.
Asthma patients usually have inflamed airways. As inflamed as they are, the airways are also very sensitive, have stronger muscles around them, and have lots of mucus covering them. This limits the amount of air passing through to the lungs even when the patient is not showing signs of an asthma attack. When the airways get irritated even slightly, (could be due to smoke or even a change in humidity), they become constricted further leading to symptoms like difficulty in breathing in most cases.
Vaporizers
This refers to a machine built for the sole purpose of vaporizing plants so that people can inhale them. It consists of various compartments that work together to achieve the main goal, which is to turn plant ingredients into vapor. They have vaporizing and storage compartments, and an outlet that people use to inhale the vapor.
Humidifiers
These are made for dispersing moisture as tiny droplets that are usually invisible. You can use them in a room or even an entire building to keep the area moisturized. The main aim of a humidifier is to solve low humidity issues including respiratory issues that could arise from staying in a dry environment. With humidifiers, all you need is distilled water and you are good to go. They are of different kinds and shapes and you pick what you think suits you best depending on the money you have.
Comparing the two
One of the remedies for asthma patients is inhaled medicine in which case vaporizers are the best option. Nevertheless, they can help reduce the amount of congested mucus in the airway but sometimes inhaling through vaporizers does not reach the bottom parts of the airways. This makes vaporizers less effective in managing asthma most of the time. On the other hand, humidifiers can help you keep the humidity in your home well-balanced making them more effective.
Not all humidifiers work the same way so you have to know the difference between them. This will show you how they will help you manage the asthma symptoms before you decide which one to buy. You also need to consider the amount of space you want the humidity to cover. As a result, you will end up buying the right humidifier for the job. The different types of humidifiers include:
Warm mist humidifiers
These humidifiers produce moisture that is neither hot nor cold. These can help asthma patients regulate the moisture most efficiently. You can regulate it to give you cooler mist or warmer mist according to your preference.
Cool mist humidifiers
These humidifiers produce a cool mist thereby making the room much cooler. They are different types like ultrasonic humidifiers that use ultrasonic frequencies to vibrate the water into smaller particles. The other type uses a fan and wick to disperse the water in form of a mist into the surrounding area. They are good at saving energy thereby reducing electricity bills but could be a problem for asthma patients, especially those that live in cold areas or during the winter season.
Steam humidifiers
These use electricity to boil the water before dispersing it. They require regular cleaning and consume a lot of energy compared to the other types. This type of humidifier could be helpful to asthma patients who prefer warmer humidity. It is also best during the cold weather season like the winter.
Conclusion
Between humidifiers and vaporizers, humidifiers are the best option for asthma management. However, you have to carefully maintain them and ensure that they are well taken care of if you want them to function properly. Poorly maintained humidifiers could lead to further problems for you. Breathing in unclean moisture is problematic for your already delicate respiratory system.
You could end up breathing in fungi and bacteria that clog humidifiers that are not cleaned regularly. To ensure that yours is well taken care of;
Clean it regularly
Use a mild cleaning agent that is still effective in removing all the bacteria and fungi that could have accumulated in the humidifier. One recommended agent is vinegar. Use it to clean your humidifier at least once a week to keep it in top shape.
Use mineral water
Normal tap water contains minerals that promote fungi and bacteria growth. To avoid this, use distilled water only in the humidifiers. You can use tap water to clean it but ensure you dry it off before assembling it back together. This will keep the moisture fresh.
Choose the best option
Some humidifiers made for asthma patients have ultraviolet lights built-in on them. This is to deter the growth of fungus and bacteria. This makes them more effective in helping produce clean and safe moisture. With the UV lights, you will not have to worry about monitoring the periods you leave your humidifier on. You still have to be careful not to let too much moisture into the room. This means that you have to regulate the period your humidifier stays on and when to turn it off. Too much humidity could cause complications just as unclean air can.
It is best to consult your doctor before buying a humidifier. He or she will give you the best professional advice and outline the advantages and disadvantages of using one.