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By Lisa Harper
Updated: November 9, 2020
Originally Published: April 12, 2019
One of the most harrowing moments of my life occurred when my daughter, a mere infant at the time, came down with the flu. As a parent who strictly adheres to vaccination schedules, I was devastated that she was too young for a flu shot. While everyone around her, including myself, had been vaccinated, she still fell ill.
For days, she was lethargic and clearly uncomfortable. The nights were particularly agonizing, as I lay awake, fearing that her temperature would soar or that she might stop breathing altogether. It was a nightmare.
A year later, I took her to the pediatrician because of a persistent cough that kept her up at night. The doctor couldn’t diagnose asthma given her young age, but he prescribed a nebulizer that helped her breathe more freely.
Through these early parenting experiences, I learned a lot about health concerns. Prior to motherhood, I had taken my good health for granted, perhaps even feeling a bit invincible.
In my twenties, I lived in a beautiful top-floor apartment that was perpetually dusty. Despite my best efforts to keep it clean, I often had guests with allergies, and I tried my best to accommodate them. However, cleaning was never high on my list of priorities.
Fast forward two decades, and I married someone with a dust allergy. My own skin became so sensitive that I jokingly wondered if I was allergic to air. My daughter still struggles with breathing issues, and my toddler son seems to be following in her footsteps. The memory of my daughter suffering from the flu still lingers in my mind.
Desperate to keep my family healthy, I’ve embraced both vaccinations and natural remedies. In my quest for wellness, I rediscovered an age-old solution: the humidifier.
When my daughter faced her breathing challenges, her pediatrician recommended using a humidifier to add moisture to the air. It worked wonders, helping her sleep better and alleviating her cough. After moving a few months later, I neglected to set it up again, forgetting its many benefits.
Humidifiers are like the unsung heroes of household appliances. While most people recognize that they add moisture to the air and improve breathing, they have a host of other underrated benefits.
For instance, studies have shown that it’s not the cold weather that brings on the flu during winter; it’s the dry air. Researchers used a cough simulator to disperse the flu virus in various humidity levels and discovered that after 24 hours, 100% of the virus in humid air was eliminated, while 60% survived in dry conditions. Surprising, right? We often worry about our kids braving the cold, but they might be more susceptible to the flu in our cozy, dry homes during winter.
If that doesn’t convince you to place a humidifier in every room, consider this: when I moved to California, my skin became incredibly dry, leading to flakes and itchiness. Despite trying expensive creams and hydrating more, I missed the healthy glow my skin once had. Once we started using the humidifier again, I noticed significant improvement in my skin’s hydration. Those lotions finally began to work instead of just sitting on the surface.
Humidifiers can also reduce snoring and help you sleep more soundly by keeping the air warm and moist. In environments with recycled air, like offices or hospitals, humidifiers can mitigate symptoms related to “sick building syndrome,” such as headaches, throat irritation, fatigue, and dizziness. They also provide relief for allergy sufferers.
In a world filled with new health trends that can be hard to navigate, humidifiers stand out as a simple and low-risk solution. Just fill it with water, plug it in, and see if it works for you. At best, you’ll enjoy glowing skin and better sleep; at worst, your plants will thrive in the increased moisture. Sounds like a win-win to me!
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In summary, incorporating humidifiers into every room can significantly improve your family’s health and comfort. From reducing flu virus survival to alleviating dry skin and respiratory issues, the benefits are numerous and often overlooked.
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