In almost
all of Europe, the autumn-winter season not only brings
beautiful landscapes but unfortunately often also brings
dry air, which can contribute to exacerbating the symptoms of a
cold and congested airways. Humidifying the air in our environment is one of the simple yet
effective methods that can help us avoid a cold and effectively
alleviate its symptoms.
In the
autumn-winter season, due to heating indoor spaces, the air in
homes and buildings becomes drier. Additionally,
dry air tends to absorb moisture from our
mucous membranes, including those lining the
nose and throat. As a result, this can often lead to
drying and irritation of tissues, which, in turn, favors infection development, further
exacerbating cold symptoms.
When the
mucous membranes of the nose and throat are dry, they can lose their ability to remove
microbes and allergens, which can lead to a cold. As a result, our
respiratory passages become more susceptible to infections and inflammation.
Humidifying the air in our environment can help by increasing the
humidity of the air in indoor spaces. This can be achieved through
various methods, including using air humidifiers, placing
wet towels on radiators, using modern
air conditioning with humidifying functions, or simply placing
containers of water in rooms.
Regularly
ventilating rooms to replace dry air with
fresh and more humid air is also a good idea. Humidifying the air, including refreshing a
mattress for sleeping, can help maintain the
mucous membranes of the nose and throat in good condition, which, in turn, can
reduce the risk of developing a cold.
Humidifying the air can be an
effective method for alleviating cold symptoms and an excellent
preventive measure to avoid infections. Maintaining the right level of
humidity in the bedroom can help prevent drying of mucous membranes and provide
better protection against infections and allergens.
It's also important to note that
air humidifiers are particularly useful for
infants and small children who are more susceptible to respiratory infections and may suffer from
severe cold symptoms in a dry environment.