COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It is a condition that affects the lungs and generally can lead to breathing difficulty. Since it is a respiratory condition, a humidifier is one appliance that can help manage some symptoms of the upper air passage. But many people want to know whether a humidifier is good for COPD and possibly try it.
We’ve studied much research concerning humidifiers for COPD patients by various scholars, so the findings we will let you know in the course of this article. Read this piece comprehensively to be aware and also inform someone with the sickness how heated humidification can be of benefit.
Quick links >>> What is copd? | Symptoms | Causes | Treatment |Can humidifier help? | FAQ’s | Suggestions | Summary
What is copd?
As earlier said, the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a lung condition. It affects breathing as the patient finds it hard to exhale. The symptoms include coughing, mucus, wheezing, and breathing difficulties. Many things can cause it, such as long-term exposure to gases, airborne particles, or cigarette smoke that irritates the lungs.
The condition includes:
- Emphysema
- and chronic bronchitis
Emphysema: This is the damage to the alveoli (the air sacs) from cigarette smoke and exposure to other irritating gases.
Chronic bronchitis:This is the inflammation (swelling) of the bronchitis tube responsive to transporting air to and from the lung.
According to asurvey, COPD is estimated to affect 32 million persons in the United States and is the 3rd leading cause of death.
Some other studies found its prevalence among persons of 35 years and adults who are smokers. It means those who smoke are at high risk of this condition.
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What are the Symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?
Copd symptoms may not be noticeable unless severe damage to the lungs has happened and can get worse on continual exposure to a smoking environment.
The main symptoms are:
- Short breath (breathlessness)
- Severe chest pain
- Wheezing
- Strong cough with mucus
- Lack (low level) of energy
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Weight loss
What causes COPD?
The primary cause of the condition is smoking, but some people who never smoked before can get it through exposure to fumes.
COPD in underdeveloped countries is caused by smoking tobacco, while in developing countries is caused by the release of fume from cooking fuels and emissions from heating in poorly vented buildings.
Few cases are traceable to genetic problems, which rarely occur.
Treatment for copd
The condition has no cure because of permanent damage to the lungs. But some things can help reduce the rate.
These include:
- Quit smoking
- To breathe easier – use inhalers and over-the-counter (OTC) medication
- Lung transplants – this option may not be available to everyone depending on the individual severity condition
Can humidifier help with copd treatment?
As mentioned before, once the lung is damaged, no treatment can restore it. Undergoing surgery (lung transplants) opened to a few people can be the only remedy. For the condition not to worsen, some of the treatments above will slow the progression.
As regards how humidifiers for COPD patients help;
Astudyfinds that humidified air may help improve mucociliary and help airway patency.
Another workreports that heated humidification can help mucus flow and reduce viscosity. The reports also said humidification might be essential in long-term oxygen treatment. Because inhaling dry air can degenerate to dysfunction and changes in mucus properties and mucociliary clearance impairment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What does copd stand for?
Answer: It means chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Q. Is a cool mist humidifier good for COPD?
Answer:No research findings claim if a cool-mist humidifier is good or not for COPD, but generally, they are the best for children surrounding as they don’t release mist that can cause a burn. And as someone with a lung condition, using this kind of humidifier will require regular cleaning. Failure to do so can lead to viruses and molds problem in the tank, which can increase health issues.
Q. What is the best room temp for COPD patients?
Answer:Research on Pubmedconcludes that subjects who lived at room temperature of 21 degree Celsius (69.8°F) for at least 9hrs daily had better respiratory health than those who lived in homes, where the temperature level was lower. Based on the study, 69.8°F seems to be the best humidity level for copds patients.
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The suggestion of some humidifiers products for COPD
Someone with lung problems and experiencing breathing difficulties can try any of these products. Adding it to your room can make a lot of difference to your home air.
1. Honeywell Cool Moisture Humidifier
The Honeywell has a 1-gallon tank for a long last duration of up to 24 hours. The coverage size is perfect for space up to 450 square feet.
Most notably, it has UV technology that destroys germs, making it possible to deliver safe air that won’t worsen COPD conditions. Besides, with this feature, you can even use tap water. The wicking filter prevents white dust deposits.
It has 3-speed settings allowing users to adjust humidity and sound level according to preference. Ensure to keep humidity between 40 -50 %, a range suitable for COPD patients to breathe better.
Pros and cons
The Honeywell has a tank size that can last for good hours of operation. The humidity and noise level is adjustable. Also, UV technology provides a safer mist.
On the other side, wicking filters need replacement. The manual instruction contains the information on when to replace it.
2. LEVOIT with oil diffuser
Since shortness of breath is one of the symptoms associated with the condition, adding a humidifier to your space can ease breathing.
The whisper-quiet operation, rarely will you notice it’s close to you. For someone suffering from lung respiratory issues, sleeping in a dry atmosphere can exacerbate the condition. Therefore, Levoit can be your air-humidifying companion.
It has a transparent tank to view the water level at a glance. The tank is 6 liter, enough to run the device for 50 hours on low speed and 30 hrs on high.
This appliance is ideal for use in a large room of about 750 sq. ft. For smaller rooms, it may be too powerful, resulting in excessive humidity problems.
Pros and cons
It is easy to operate with the remote control anywhere in your room. Also, it has a built-in humidity sensor that auto-adjust humidity levels according to your settings. The automatic shut-off protects the device from damage on low water.
Consequently, the warm mist mode can lead to burns, but the cool-mist option is ideal for safety around children.
3. Vicks Filter-Free Ultrasonic Cool Mist
This humidifier delivers mist using ultrasonic vibration, unlike the evaporative process, it produces less noise.
As an ultrasonic model, it has no filter for its operation. So, there is no additional cost of replacing filters and the stress of cleaning. ,
The 1.2 gallon is more significant than the Honeywell of featuring 1 gallon capacity. This tank capacity guarantees up to 30hrs operations.
The device has a dimension of 10.87 x 9.45 x 13.46 inches and weighs 4lbs.
Pros and cons
The Vicks vaporizer is a portable design that is good for tables, desks, and tight space bedrooms. It is also a perfect consideration for office use. It has review remarks up to 16k, making it a quality device of standard.
On the twist, it is not ideal for large rooms. It lacks a humidity sensor – hence, humidity needs to be programmed manually. It does not support essential oil.
Summary
Copd is a lung disease affecting people globally; smokers are at high risk of this health issue, likewise those exposing themselves to long-term smoke. These signs are many, including upper air passages symptoms which a humidifier can help. But, from findings, COPD cannot be cured; it can be treated to reduce its progression rate. However, doctors can recommend lung transplants to some patients. Nevertheless, COPD is not a death sentence,; avoiding things which can worsen the condition.