As cooler weather approaches, so too does cold and flu season. Germs circulate more easily in the closed spaces of our homes, the air becomes cold and dry, and our sinuses and skin are more susceptible to irritation. It’s for times like these that having a good humidifier can make all the difference in your health and well-being during the cooler seasons.

5 Humidifier Benefits That Improve Your Health

I have used a humidifier in my bedroom for a number of years to help with a variety of respiratory complaints. But that’s not all humidifiers are good for!

Here are the top 5 Reasons you want a humidifier in your home before the cold weather settles in:

1. A Humidifier Can Ease Chronic Conditions Like Asthma and Allergies

As someone who suffers from both adult asthma and chronic allergies, I can attest to the efficacy of using a good humidifier.

Not only does the moisture soothe my irritated sinuses, but the humidity also makes my breathing less laborious by keeping lung secretions from turning sticky. This is one of the key reasons I rely on a humidifier during the fall and winter months because without one my asthmatic coughs become more and more unproductive. This is because dry air tends to thicken mucus causing it to become stuck and hard to expectorate and I find myself reaching for my inhaler more often than I’d like.

Turning on a humidifier for even short periods of time will drastically improve the air quality in any room by replacing moisture and helping those with any type of respiratory conditions breathe easy!

The humidifier I use is great because it has a large 6L water tank which allows for up to 36 hours of continuous use. And, since I work from home, it’s important that I keep humidity at a comfortable level.

2. A Humidifier Can Heal Respiratory Colds Faster

Believe it or not, viruses, bacteria, and other germs cannot travel through moist air as well as dry air. So whether you are trying to prevent a cold from spreading or are at least trying to make someone a bit more comfortable during a cold, humid air will help!

One of my favorite things about the Levoit humidifier I use is that it also has a compartment for adding essential oils. I find this super useful during a cold or flu because I can easily add a few drops of immunity-boosting oils to help further fight off infection and kill more airborne bacteria.

Another amazing function this humidifier has is the ability to switch between warm or cool mist depending on your needs. I find that using the warm mist setting during illness works wonders for coughs, congestion, and sinus infections. I like to use the cool mist setting on hot days where air conditioning may be drying out the air in my home.

3. A Humidifier Can Reduce and Prevent Nosebleeds

One of the more annoying respiratory issues I deal with is frequent nosebleeds if the weather is too dry. Every time santa ana winds come through the area or if my husband and I travel to the mountains (where the humidity is usually 25% or lower) I almost always get nosebleeds.

To help combat dry sinuses, I used to boil a pot of water on the stove to help increase humidity, but after forgetting the pot on the stove on a number of occasions I decided that a humidifier was a safer route!

What’s great about my humidifier is the fact that it has a specific function that automatically measures the humidity in the air and will turn on if moisture plummets below a certain setting. I prefer a humidity level of at least 55% so I set that up with the controls and now I don’t have to worry about it anymore aside from topping up water levels as needed. The humidifier will turn on automatically if the humidity is below that percentage and I can enjoy nosebleed-less trips to the cabin!

4. A Humidifier Can Relieve and Prevent Sinusitis

Aside from making the spread of germs more difficult, having more humidity in the air can actually keep dust, airborne mold spores, and other nasty particulates out of the air which can really help improve symptoms of sinusitis and other chronic sinus conditions.

Keeping your nasal passages moist will help your body eliminate excess mucus and infection from the nasal cavity and lungs. Adding a few clarifying essential oils like eucalyptus or peppermint can further support the respiratory tract by cutting through stubborn blockages and opening the airways.

5. A Humidifier Can Support Supple and Moisturized Skin

Lastly, having proper moisture levels in the air during cold and dry weather will ensure that your skin stays hydrated and supple. I can’t tell you how many times my husband and I traveled to the family cabin up in the mountains only to turn in raisins within the first day.

Dry air literally sucks the moisture out of you as your skin struggles to hold onto water. The problem is that the moisture evaporates as soon as your skin pulls it from your tissues which is why you get dehydrated faster in dryer climates.

Using a humidifier will help keep moisture levels in the air at a stable and comfortable level which will also help keep you more hydrated as a result.

And, as the last perk, using a humidifier in dryer climates also reduces static shock!

The Best Humidifier I have Found

As you have probably noticed by now, I love the Levoit brand! And I’m not just saying that I really do love their products and their humidifier is no different. They always have high quality, reasonably priced items that look great and do exactly what they’re supposed to do.

The humidifier looks modern, doesn’t cost as much as other humidifiers, runs quietly, has more functionality and settings to choose from than other humidifiers I’ve used, has a large water tank, and has a remote control for easy use that I find essential when sick and bedridden.

It also doubles as a cool mist humidifier and a warm mist humidifier which I find especially helpful depending on what time of year it is.

You can even use it as a large essential oil humidifier, but I honestly don't use it for that since I want the unit to remain completely odorless.

It has made a substantial difference in my health and well-being and I no longer have such terrible allergies or dry sinuses at night. I imagine that this would also make for a fantastic baby humidifier as well.

Lastly, this humidifier is able to cover even very large rooms since it has a substantial water capacity. All in all, I'm really pleased with it.

You can get the same Levoit humidifier I have here.

Have you ever used a humidifier? Which one has been your favorite?

You may also enjoy reading:

7 Benefits of Using an Essential Oil Diffuser
The Amazing Health Benefits of Using an Air Purifier
The Complete Guide to a Natural Medicine Cabinet
The Benefits of Himalayan Salt Lamps
Essential Oils for Bronchitis

This post contains affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Read my full disclosure and disclaimer.