Humidifiers: pros & cons

As the cold, dry air has now settled in across the country, it may have brought along an unwanted guest: painful sinuses.

To help battle the dry air, and the unpleasant sinus side effects that come with it, many experts recommend using a humidifier.

A quality humidifier will add moisture to the air around you, which can soothe irritated nasal passages.

And that’s definitely something you may need during the winter. 

You see, 90% of unhealthy invaders enter your body through your nose. 

If your nasal cavity starts to dry out, it can crack, leaving you vulnerable to attack.

A neti pot or steam shower can offer quick relief, but if the air in your home is really dry, you need something that will last beyond a 10-minute shower.

That’s where a humidifier can help.

There are two main types of humidifiers to choose from: cool mist and warm mist.

As the names imply, cool mist humidifiers release a cool water vapor into the air, while warm mist units have a heating element that warms the water before it’s released.

Cool mist units are typically noisier than their warm mist counterparts, as they use a fan to blow out the water vapor.

Despite the noise, I prefer a cool mist humidifier. That’s mostly for safety reasons.

The water in a warm mist humidifier is hot. Scorching hot.

If you keep your humidifier unit beside your bed – which is where most people do – and sleepily bang your night table in the middle of the night, you could be greeted with scalding hot water. 

That’s just not a risk I want you to take. 

Fortunately, down here in Florida, it’s typically humid anyway. And I don’t have the heat on much. But you might not be so lucky. 

Still, no matter which type of unit you choose, it’s essential that you stay on top of cleaning your humidifier. 

Due to the moisture, humidifiers can be breeding grounds for harmful bacteria.

And when you’re dealing with sinus issues, the last thing you want to be doing is putting more bad bugs in the air you breathe. 

Take good care of your humidifier and it can provide soothing comfort when you need it most.

You can also check out my favorite AM/PM sinus must-have right here. Keeping the air moist and comfortable goes a lot further when you're also helping your sinuses stay healthy.