Unlike most other body tissues, our respiratory system is way more sensitive to foreign material. Thus, it is naturally more prone to communicable diseases and general lung and throat infections.
The main reason behind this susceptibility is the fact that through the nostrils, it is constantly coming in contact with the outside air that we directly intake from our surroundings.
As a result, if the air we breathe is polluted and contains harmful substances like dust, pollen grains, hardly visible microorganisms, and germs, it can be fatal for our health in the long run. Moreover, it often leads to conditions like asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis, and Pneumonia.
Out of these, Pneumonia is one of the most prevalent syndromes of all time. But even though it is the most common respiratory disease, many people aren’t aware of things like What Pneumonia actually means? What are its typical symptoms? How is it caused? And what are its correct treatment and management methods?
Therefore, right from its symptoms to its cure, in this blog, we’re going to discuss everything that you must know about Pneumonia and its proper management. Stay tuned to find out!
Contents
What is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a respiratory infection in which the air sacs present in our lungs, called alveoli, undergo inflammation. Thus, ultimately causing difficulty in breathing by getting filled up with pus or fluid along with oxygen.
The primary function of alveoli is to carry out the exchange of air diffusing in and out of your lungs.
An average human body has more than 480 million alveoli meant for exchanging gases like carbon dioxide and oxygen to help you in the process of inhalation and exhalation of air.
So, if these tiny air exchanging units do not function properly, naturally, you will start facing breathing problems that may be mild in the starting but can become life-threatening if not managed and treated at the right time.
Causes of Pneumonia
Almost all types of microorganisms ranging from bacteria to fungi, can cause Pneumonia. However, a specific bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae is often the major source of it.
Other common causes of Pneumonia include:
- Bacterial agents like Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Legionella pneumophila
- Viral infections like influenza or flu, common cold, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), HPIV, HMPV, etc.
- Measles and chickenpox
- Coronavirus infection
- Soil fungus or fungi from bird droppings
- Fungal agents like Pneumocystis jirovecii., Coccidioidomycosis and Cryptococcus
Symptoms of Pneumonia
- Chest pain during coughing or sneezing
- Production of phlegm along with cough
- Excessive fatigue
- Fever, unreasonable sweating, and shivering due to cold
- Nausea, Diarrhoea, and Vomiting
- The body’s temperature becomes extraordinarily low.
Are Humidifiers Good For Pneumonia?
A humidifier is a device that produces mist or steam and adds more moisture to the air. Hence, it gradually helps you to breathe with more comfort and less effort by opening up the air channels that take fresh air from your nose to your lungs.
In Pneumonia, since the alveoli cannot carry out proper filtration of air to be absorbed by the lungs, the patient starts facing stuffing problems and discomfort in the respiratory tract. Humidifiers work to relieve this congestion in the chest and provide a better, clearer air passage for more oxygen intake.
So, it ultimately moisturizes the airways leading to improved intake of more quality air. As a result, it helps to manage your Pneumonia more effectively, and thus, it is a proven treatment method for patients with mild to moderate Pneumonia.
Should you use a humidifier when you have Pneumonia?
We have already explained how a Humidifier for Pneumonia works in the above section. Still, if you’re wondering that is a humidifier good for Pneumonia?
Or, whether you can use it along with your medical treatment and medicines, the answer is YES! Of course! In fact, cool mist humidifiers are especially recommended for people having problems like Pneumonia, dry throat, Sleep apnea, etc.
Now, if your question is why are they recommended, then here’s why:
Firstly, a good Humidifier helps to manage the correct humidity levels around your house. In turn, this leads to the maximized air intake and effectively treats respiratory problems like Pneumonia.
Secondly, they are the most affordable method of adding more moisture to the atmosphere and creating room for better air quality.
And lastly, since most top-rated Humidifiers come with multiple moisture level adjustments, you never have to worry about dampness. Consequently, you can always bring the humidity levels down when your needs are met.
What kind of humidifier is good for Pneumonia?
Cool mist Humidifier is hands down the best Humidifier for Pneumonia. Since the cool mist is far more soothing on the nasal passage compared to warm mist, that’s why Humidifiers with the property to release cold steam are best recommended for Pneumonia. Also, besides being easy on the windpipe that carries air from the environment to the lungs, it has a gazillion more advantages over warm mist Humidifiers.
First of all, it helps to fight against influenza. Doing so, directly prevents the onset of worsened pneumonia symptoms.
Secondly, it produces a more productive cough. A more productive cough means more removal of the dangerous phlegm. And because the accumulation of more phlegm inside the respiratory tract can worsen the condition of a pneumonia patient, it’s crucial to eliminate it out of the body as fast as possible.
Cool mist humidifiers do exactly this to contribute towards better respiratory health.
Thus, all in all, cool mist humidifiers are an excellent treatment and management method for Pneumonia. And that sums up our answer to your question of whether a cool mist humidifier is good for Pneumonia.
On the other hand, if you ask me if a warm mist humidifier is good for Pneumonia, then I would say that it’s not really a wrong choice for humidification. Still, it doesn’t produce as outstanding results as cool mist humidifiers, particularly for Pneumonia. Hence, we don’t recommend it.
Does a humidifier make Pneumonia worse?
Although purchasing a decent humidifier is one of the best ways to treat and manage Pneumonia, it can actually work the opposite way if you use it carelessly.
Likewise, despite being an excellent cure for Pneumonia, you have to be consistent and regular towards the cleanliness of your humidifier to get the best of its benefits.
Again, Humidifiers tend to produce white dust due to the continuous production and release of water vapor into the air. Hence, it is quite natural for them to end up producing molds and increase bacterial growth around your house because of improper maintenance.
Therefore, to make the best out of your Humidifier for Pneumonia, make sure you carry out its complete cleaning at least once a month.
Best Humidifier for Pneumonia
That was all about Pneumonia, its causes, symptoms, and management. Now, for the million-dollar question: Does a humidifier really work for Pneumonia? We have said it before, and we’ll repeat it –
‘The easiest and cheapest method to avoid all types of dryness and breathing-related problems including Pneumonia, dry cough, and snoring is buying a humidifier.’
So, here are 4 of our top recommendations for the best Humidifier for Pneumonia supporting our answer to the question of is a humidifier good for Pneumonia.
1. Pure Enrichment® MistAire™ Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
The Pure Enrichment® MistAire™ Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier is a simple and modern-looking, cute little Humidifier perfect for people facing sleeping problems due to excessive snoring, dry throat, and Pneumonia. It provides up to 25 hours of continuous steam released through its 360° nozzle with multiple high and low mist settings for complete coverage.
The 1.5-liter water tank containing humidification tool comes with a night light, automatic turn-off technology, and whisper-quiet operation. Hence, you can conveniently place it in small to medium-sized bedrooms to get a night of higher quality sleep without any disturbances.
Still not sure if it truly is a cool mist humidifier good for Pneumonia? You can check out its Amazon customer reviews.
Almost 80% of them declare it as a potent and effective remedy to their Pneumonia related sleeping problems.
Especially during the past two years, ever since the covid-19 virus spread across the globe, it has been one of the best-selling Humidifiers worldwide with more than 70,000 global consumer ratings on Amazon.
The best part is that apart from being small and portable, it’s a highly budget-friendly product available at a price of fewer than 100 dollars. So, anyone can easily afford it.
Pros
- Super Quiet
- Easy to set up
- Small and portable
- Easy to clean
- Longer run time
- Overall efficiency
- Mist speed is adjustable
Cons
- Bright night light
- Small water tank
2. AquaOasis™ Cool Mist Humidifier
With a water reservoir capacity almost double to that of the Pure Enrichment® MistAire™ Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier, the AquaOasis™ Cool Mist Humidifier is another excellent pick for the best Humidifier for Pneumonia. Although, it may not be the answer to whether a warm mist humidifier is good for Pneumonia.
Yet, it has features you can genuinely look forward to in a humidifier for Pneumonia.
Let me start with the water tank. The humidifier has a bumper 2.2 liters of water holding capacity to perform like a beast while humidifying the air around your house.
Next, it has multiple mist settings. Too much moisture in one part of the room? Turn around the 360-degree rotatable nozzle to the area you think more mist should radiate too.
Irritated due to frequent waking up during the night because of electrical appliance sounds? Don’t worry; our Humidifiers don’t even sound like some machine is operating. So, you won’t hear its humming or whistling or crackling even during the quietest of midnight hours.
What more do you expect from a therapeutic Humidifier? Automatic shut off, right? Guess what? It has that too.
Thus, all in all, it’s an attractive investment and indeed a significant step to treat and manage Pneumonia effectively at your home.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Super Quiet
- Lightweight
- Highly Affordable
- No filter replacement needed
- Easy to refill
Cons
- It is not easy to clean
3. LEVOIT 6L Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier
In the whole of this blog, we have been telling you about how COOL mist humidifiers are great for the correct management of Pneumonia at home. But isn’t it always better to have more variety of options? Similarly, if you can get higher control over the temperature, quality, and quantity of mist that your humidifier releases, then nothing can be better than that.
That’s why the LEVOIT 6 liter Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier offers you both hot and cold mist settings for an overall more satisfactory humidification experience in the long run.
Despite being a little heavier than the above two humidifiers, this one provides you four times faster humidification and has triple the water holding capacity compared to AquaOasis Humidifier and Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier.
Likewise, the Dual-mist Humidifier has a massive mist-producing capacity at a rate of 500 ml per hour that readily covers an area as large as 753 square feet. Simultaneously, a vast 6-liter tank functions for up to 50 hours straight to minimize the effort to refill it frequently.
Moreover, it even comes with a readily usable remote control to help you control it comfortably from anywhere across the room.
Other notable features include silent functioning, smart humidity sensors, filterless design, intelligent aroma diffuser, and automatic shut down upon tank emptying.
Pros
- Remote control
- Large water reservoir
- No leakage problems
- Quiet
- Aroma diffuser
- Easy to clean
- Both hot and cool mist options are available
- Energy Efficient
Cons
- Cheap design
- It produces a lot of white dust
4. Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (6L)
Our last recommendation for a superfine Humidifier for Pneumonia, similar to LEVOIT 6L Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier, comes with a 6-liter water tank capacity and has an essential oil diffuser tray. Hence, you get more fragrant and soothing humidification around your house for a long duration of up to 50 hours continuously.
Further, its filterless design is meant by keeping nature and its protection in mind. So, you never have to replace a filter ever again and spend any more money on its costly management and maintenance. In this manner, you can save that money and rather spend it on your medical treatment for Pneumonia instead.
Again, the humidifier produces a sound of less than 30 DB and is suitable for large bedrooms, baby rooms, and even for elderly patients.
Lastly, the Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier for Bedroom (6L) package comes with a 2-year replacement policy and fantastic customer support services. So, whether it is confusion regarding its refilling or problems with cleaning the water tank, or any malfunctioning issues, their team is always there to help you with everything regarding the humidifier.
Pros
- No Leakage problems
- Large water tank
- Super easy to use
- Effortless to assemble
- Easily visible water level
- Silent
- Essential oil tray
- LED light indicator
Cons
- Not easy to clean
Verdict
To summarise, Humidifiers, especially the cool mist humidifiers, don’t only help you breathe better in case of Pneumonia but are also a fantastic solution for other breathing and dryness-related problems. Skin dryness, coughing, nasal and chest congestion are some of these problems.
However, the type of humidifier that fits your needs the best way depends on factors like your primary purpose, place of use, the environment around your house or office, and your budget for the same.
Nevertheless, suppose you’re looking for a decent budget Humidifier that lasts for a long time and comes with excellent tech support. In that case, we strongly recommend the Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier 6 liter Humidifier.
The primary reason why we prefer it over all other three mentioned in the list above is its overall competency and compelling performance, especially against Pneumonia.
Not just that, it is also a very lightweight and portable device that you can readily use around kids and elderly patients. All these factors make it our best recommendation for the best Humidifier for Pneumonia.
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Hello! I’m Hazel J. Waters, founder of Sweet home remedy. My goal while starting this blog was to help solve people’s queries related to home & kitchen appliances such as humidifiers, dehumidifiers, ACs, furnaces, microwaves, and more.