Top 5 Humidifier Benefits For Sleep
If you’re looking for a simple and effective way to improve your health and well-being, a humidifier could be the answer. Humidifiers are devices that increase the level of moisture in your surroundings, and they can work wonders to enhance the quality of the air around you, providing numerous advantages for both your physical and mental wellness.
But did you know that using a humidifier while you sleep can offer even more benefits? Running a humidifier at night can improve your overall sleep quality by reducing snoring, decongesting sinuses, protecting against illnesses, relieving dry skin, and providing relaxing effects. Here, we’ll explore all the benefits of sleeping with a humidifier and how it can help you wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated!
How Humidifiers Work
All humidifiers add moisture to your surroundings, which can be especially helpful in dry environments or during the colder months when indoor heating can dehydrate the air. There are several common types of humidifiers that work in different ways, each with their own features and benefits:
Ultrasonic humidifiers use high-frequency vibrations to create a fine mist that is dispersed into the surrounding air. These devices are typically quiet and energy-efficient.
Steam vaporizer humidifiers include a heating element that boils water and releases steam into the air. They're ideal for providing a soothing warmth during colder seasons of the year
Evaporative humidifiers work by using a fan to blow air over a wick or filter that is saturated with water, releasing tiny droplets into the air and producing a cool mist.
Central humidifiers are meant for the entire home. They are built into the cooling and heating system of your house or building, circulating moisture into the air through the HVAC system.
While all humidifiers serve to increase moisture levels and help to relieve a number of health issues, they can vary in form and function. By understanding the differences between each type of humidifier, you can be fully prepared to choose one that best suits your needs and preferences.
1. Humidifiers Help Reduce Snoring
Humidifiers are best known for their ability to alleviate respiratory problems, including snoring, which occurs when airways in the nose and throat become narrow or obstructed. This causes the surrounding tissues in your sinuses to vibrate and produce sound, which is not only annoying to the people around you, but also has harmful effects on your physical health and mental health. Luckily, a humidifier can help.
By increasing the humidity levels in your bedroom, these devices can help mitigate snoring by reducing irritation and inflammation in the airways. The additional moisture in the air can help soothe the tissues in your sinuses and prevent swelling, allowing for air to flow more freely through nasal cavities without collapsing and causing the vibrations that lead to snoring. Humidification also helps to purify the air, eliminating dust and allergens that can aggravate these problems.
Using a humidifier during sleep, you and your partner can enjoy a more restful and comfortable night without the disruptions caused by snoring.
2. Humidifiers Help Ease Congestion And Cold Symptoms
If you suffer from congestion, whether it be due to allergy symptoms, asthma, or the common cold, you’ll know how difficult it is to get a good night’s rest. An irritated throat or stuffy nose can cause difficulty breathing, coughing, and snoring, making it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. However, a humidifier may be able to offer relief for these respiratory issues .
Dry air causes the mucus in your nasal passages to thicken, which leads to congestion, constricting your airways and making breathing difficult. Also, having to constantly clear your throat, blow your nose, and cough up all that phlegm is just downright uncomfortable, sometimes making it almost impossible to rest. However, having sufficient moisture in the air can help to thin out and loosen mucus, making it much easier to breathe and sleep comfortably.
In addition to providing relief from congestion, a humidifier can also help to soothe dry and scratchy throats. Dealing with a sore throat in bed and waking up to coughing fits can make quality sleep almost impossible. However, maintaining a proper humidity level in the air can help keep the soothe the tissues in your throat, keeping them hydrated and reducing inflammation.
3. Humidifiers Can Prevent Illnesses And Infections
Getting sick can keep you up all night and completely disrupt your sleep schedule. Luckily, a humidifier can be a powerful tool for preventing illnesses.
Dry air can cause the mucous membranes in your nose and throat to dry out, making it easier for viruses and bacteria to enter the body through airways and cause infections. However, adding moisture to the air will keep these membranes hydrated and create a more inhospitable environment for these pathogens.
Additionally, recent studies show another way that humidifiers can help prevent respiratory infections: in dry conditions, viral particles are likely to evaporate and remain in the air for long periods of time. However, when enough humidity is in your surroundings, these pathogens will become heavier and fall out of the air more quickly, meaning that less virus will be left in the atmosphere to be potentially inhaled. In fact, this research found that for every 12 percentage points of humidity added to the air, the amount of virus particles in the air fell by half.
With a humidifier running at night, you'll be able to maintain sufficient indoor humidity levels to reduce the risk of illnesses and enjoy a happier, healthier night's sleep.
4. Humidifiers Help Soothe Dry Skin
Dry and irritated skin can be a major issue for anyone, especially during the cold winter months. A lack of moisture in the air can lead to cracked, flaky, and itchy skin, which can become incredibly uncomfortable and cause you to toss and turn all night in bed.
However, the increased humidity level from a humidifier can keep your skin hydrated and prevent it from becoming dry and itchy, helping to promote more comfortable sleep. This way, you'll wake up not only feeling rejuvenated, but also looking great, with healthy and glowing skin in the morning.
Read more about how a humidifier can help with your skincare and beauty.
5. Humidifiers Create Calming Effects
Aside from the physical health benefits, humidifiers can also improve your peace of mind when you go to bed. Most humidifiers not only add moisture to the air, but also provide a soft, gentle hum that can help soothe the body and mind, promoting a more calming sleep environment. This white noise can also serve to block out other disturbing sounds inside and outside your home, such as traffic, loud neighbors, and nighttime animals, creating a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere in your bedroom.
Additionally, many humidifiers are built-in with a gentle, ambient light that provides a calming effect — this soft glow can be especially beneficial for those who may be afraid of the dark or have a hard trouble falling asleep in pitch black. With all of this, it’s easy to see why many people report that they experience lower levels of stress and fall asleep more easily while running a humidifier at night.
Choosing The Right Humidifier (For Sleep)
There are so many things to consider when it comes to choosing the right humidifier for your home. But if sleep is your number one priority, here are some important factors to to consider:
Type Of Humidification: When it comes to a good night's rest, maintaining a comfortable temperature is crucial. Warm-mist humidifiers are great for winter months, as they provide a soothing and comfortable warmth. Cool mist humidifiers, on the other hand, produce a refreshing and cooling breeze, ideal for warmer environments.
Noise Level: Some humidifiers may be loud and disruptive, while others can provide a soft and gentle noise to help promote relaxation and sleep. If noise is a concern, it's important to choose a device with a low decibel level or with certain built-in noise-reduction features. Ultrasonic humidifiers are typically known for quiet operation, but every device has its own features and specification.
Size: Be sure to take into account the size of the humidifier and well as the size of your room when making a choice. For bedrooms, it's best to choose a humidifier that is specifically designed for smaller or medium sized rooms, as larger units may be too powerful and could create an uncomfortable amount of moisture in your surroundings.
With all things considered, let's take a look at Carepod's own humidifier models to determine which one is best for helping your get a proper night's rest.
Carepod: Mini vs. One vs. Cube
While Carepod humidifiers come in three different models, they all feature award-winning designs, brand-leading 99.99% sterilization against bacteria, and are exceptionally easy to clean and maintain.
Carepod Mini is a cool mist humidifier that is ideal for smaller rooms, hydrating up to 350 square feet of space. This 13.6'' x 6 '' x 11.9'' unit is compact and portable and runs for up to 20 hours.
Carepod One, our original and bestselling humidifier, is perfect for any room. This innovative device features a simple, sleek, and aesthetic, three-piece design, covers areas up to 500 square feet, and can operate for up to 30 hours straight.
Carepod Cube is perfect for large indoor spaces, such as living rooms. With up to 700 square feet of range, the ability to switch between warm and cool mist, and up to 32 hours of run time, The Cube is the most powerful and versatile humidifier in our lineup.
Overall, Carepod Mini is the best pick for bedrooms, especially smaller ones such as those in an apartment or dorm. It fits perfectly right by your bedside (or even carry it on-the-go), has more than enough coverage, and can run throughout the entire night. Carepod One is also an excellent choice, but perhaps more suitable for a large bedroom or general living space in a house.
Final Thoughts
In summary, humidifiers work to add moisture to your surroundings, increasing humidity levels and improving the indoor air quality of your home.
There are four main types — ultrasonic, steam vaporizer, evaporative, and central — but can all provide numerous benefits to your overall health and well-being.
It's clear that using a humidifier at night can improving the quality of your sleep. Whether you suffer from snoring, allergies and cold symptoms, illnesses, dry skin, or simply want to promote a more comfortable sleeping environment, a humidifier is a simple and effective solution to help you wake up feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the day ahead!
If you're thinking about buying a humidifier or already have one and want to learn the ropes, check out our detailed article on how to install, use, and maintain a humidifier.
