Maintaining good health can help an individual achieve professional success, nourish personal relationships, and enhance emotional well-being. It is important to be aware of environmental factors that can damage a person’s health and put one’s fitness at risk. Drastic extremes of relative humidity levels have the potential of being environmental contributors to illnesses, but it is possible to avoid their dangers by understanding ways to keep safe from their potentially harmful effects.
Illnesses Caused by High Relative Humidity
When relative humidity is high, people who suffer from asthma or an allergy to dust mites can really suffer because the mites thrive in the moisture that high humidity creates. Mold spores and mildew grow in damp areas and can cause itching and mucous membrane inflammation, as well as high toxicity in the human body. This atmosphere also promotes the growth of bacteria and fungi, which can cause respiratory infections.
Health Problems Associated with Low Relative Humidity
The low relative humidity that winter often brings can deplete moisture from skin, which can cause itching and small cracks that require the application of hydrating lotions. Itchy eyes can be frustrating and low relative humidity can dry eyes, causing a person to rub them, which can further irritate them. An individual is at higher risk of catching colds when the relative humidity level is low because the respiratory tract’s mucous membrane inflames and dries out. Flu viruses flourish in this environment, causing them to spread more quickly and last longer for those infected.
Maintaining Proper Humidity Levels
Trying to maintain a relative humidity range of 45-55% can drastically reduce the incidence of developing health conditions when relative humidity is too high or low. A hygrometer is an excellent tool that measures the air’s relative humidity, which can prompt a person to adjust the humidity in the air in their home to achieve optimal levels. An air conditioner or dehumidifier can remove moisture from the air if the relative humidity level is too high (55-80% range), and a humidifier can add moisture to air that has low relative humidity (below 25%.)
To avoid health issues associated with humidity levels, contact an HVAC professional to assess how you can gain greater control over the humidity in your house throughout the year. First Class HVAC has been helping residents in Delaware towns like New Castle and Houston and Maryland towns like Delmar and Powellville manage the air quality in their homes for over 40 years. Contact us today to improve your home life and your health.