Be careful! If you use a humidifier incorrectly, it will not only add moisture...

Whether in the north or the south, people try to heat the indoor air in the severe winter. In the north, they mainly use heating, while in the south, they turn on air conditioning to improve the comfort level. However, heating will inevitably cause dry air, so many people think of using a humidifier.

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Humidifiers can improve human comfort in the dry autumn and winter seasons, but reports of respiratory diseases caused by the use of humidifiers - "humidifier pneumonia" are not uncommon. How should we use humidifiers correctly?

First of all, we need to understand that "humidifier pneumonia" is a disease name similar to "air-conditioning disease". This disease mainly refers to the unscientific use of humidifiers, which allows harmful microorganisms in the air to enter the human respiratory tract, causing pneumonia in people with weak resistance, especially pregnant women, infants and the elderly with weak resistance.

Potential hazards of humidifiers

1. A humid environment is prone to breeding bacteria, mold and other microorganisms, which may cause asthma and allergic diseases; some arthritis and diabetes patients will also have their conditions aggravated when the humidity is high.

2. If the humidifier is not cleaned properly, the mold and other microorganisms in the humidifier will enter the air with the vapor produced during use, and then enter the human respiratory tract, which can easily cause people to suffer from humidifier fungal pneumonia.

3. Adding additives such as essential oils or perfumes to water may cause rhinitis or asthma, and induce or aggravate bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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How to use a humidifier correctly

1. Moderate humidification: Choose a suitable humidifier according to the space that needs humidification. It is enough when the ambient humidity reaches 40% to 60%, which is comfortable for the human body. Arthritis patients should use air humidifiers with caution.

2. Pay attention to water quality: Choose the right clean water quality and replace the clean humidifier regularly. Deionized water (purified water) can be used in the office, which is convenient and quick; while at home, in order to save costs, tap water can be boiled, cooled to about 40°C and then added to the humidifier [1-2].

3. It is forbidden to add random additives: It is forbidden to add essential oils, flavors, disinfectants, fungicides and other additives, because these substances are more easily inhaled by the human body after atomization, irritating the respiratory tract and causing serious consequences.

Improper use of a humidifier can cause a certain degree of physical harm, but as long as we use the humidifier correctly, we can avoid these injuries, so it is particularly important to master the correct use of the humidifier.

References:
[1] Wei Liangqu: Should we do 3D color ultrasound on the fetus? 2. Improper use of mouthwash can cause bad breath. 3. Don’t ignore air humidity in winter. Network (http://blog.sina.com/) - 2015

[2] In winter, use humidifiers scientifically. Huo Yujia: - "Modern Health Preservation" - 2013-02-01

Source: Chongqing Science Writers Association

Author: Chen Jinsi, Chief Technician of Chongqing Hechuan District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zou Jingbo, Chief Technician and Chen Li, Chief Technician of Chongqing Yongchuan District Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Audit expert: Li Hanbin

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