Hey Friend!
Over the years I’ve had a lot of people ask me about humidifiers and dehumidifiers for those with respiratory health issues. The thing is, there is a delicate balance that is needed to create harmony in the lungs. Sometimes you may need a humidifier and sometimes you may need a dehumidifier.
I used to live in El Paso, TX many moons ago near White Sands Missile Range. Now, if you’re not familiar with this area, it’s quite dry and like the desert. I used my rescue inhaler several times a day and was constantly on prednisone because I had major issues there with breathing. Eventually, one of my doctors there asked if I had a humidifier because he felt that the dry air was affecting my ability to breathe well. I got one and low and behold, things improved. They weren’t perfect by any means as I couldn’t carry the humidifier with me everywhere, but they were definitely better.
Fast forward to now. I currently live in a tiny town on the north side of Rome in Italy. Sometimes, it can be quite humid in the winter because we get a lot of rain and not enough sun or high enough temperatures to dry it up. Recently, I began to experience severe respiratory issues again and had no idea why. My husband and I kept talking about how humid it was in the house but not thinking it was causing any of my issues. We actually thought it was because we have been remodelling the kitchen, but things just weren't adding up. I decided to check the humidity in our bedroom as that was where I had the most significant issues and it was 88%!!! That night, we had the dehumidifier going in there and needless to say, it was the best night’s sleep without wheezing and coughing all night that I’d had in at least a week!
I share this because for the lungs to operate well, there needs to be a delicate balance of humidity (and temperature) - too much or too little and you are in for a disaster day of breathing. I’ve been on both sides of the spectrum, and I can tell you it’s no fun!
My recommendation - when you are in your normal environment and nothing has changed (including diet); however, your breathing seems to be shifting…check the humidity levels in your home. It may also be a good idea to check for mold as well.
