If It’s Winter Outside but the Sahara Inside, You May Be Setting the Stage for Health Problems

Jan. 5, 2011 - PRLog -- If your home or office is heated by a forced air system without humidification, you may be living in an indoor environment drier than the Sahara Desert, which averages 25% relative humidity. Everyday exposure to overly dry air has varying negative effects on the human body, from dried out throat and nasal passages to dehydrated skin. Frequent colds or upper respiratory ailments may be caused by breathing dry air that’s too dry.


According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, respiratory irritation (and illness) can be caused by prolonged exposure to air that has a relative humidity of less than 20%.


The reason: When mucous membranes in your nasal passages dry out, the cilia (tiny hairs) aren’t as effective at blocking allergens and other unwanted intruders such as bacteria and mold. Dehydration of the mucous membranes in your throat and upper respiratory tract can cause an irritated throat and difficulty breathing. Maintaining your indoor environment at the optimal humidity level of 50% keeps those mucous membranes moist and reduces your susceptibility to infection.


It’s especially important to monitor indoor air humidity levels in homes and offices in recently constructed buildings. Energy-efficient construction techniques limit amounts of hourly air exchanges and increase the possibility that humidity levels could be less than ideal.


To check humidity in your workplace or home, purchase an inexpensive hygrometer (a humidity measuring device) at your local hardware store or online. Recommendation: Humidifiers.Selection4Less.com.

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