There are just a few infections out there that are more uncomfortable than a cold or the flu. Bronchitis is an infection and inflammation of your bronchial tubes that causes several symptoms that range from a cough to nasal discharge as well as a dry nose and wheezing. While there are several ways to create relief from this inflammation, having the best humidifiers for bronchitis can be a significant help in the healing process.
The bronchial tubes are responsible for carrying air to your lungs, and when they become infected and swollen, it can result in a high frequency of cough followed by a high level of mucus. At night, these symptoms can greatly increase and cause discomfort as well as a reduced amount of sleep time. But, if you have a specially designed humidifier for coughing, you can easily combat bronchitis. Here are a few tips and reviews to help find the best humidifiers for bronchitis for the next time you feel under the weather.
Also Read: Best humidifier for dry nose
Warm or cool Mist humidifier for bronchitis?
The principal function of a humidifier is to increase the level of humidity in the air. There are two main types of humidifiers. A warm mist humidifier comes with a heating element that heats water creating steam that is dispersed into the room increasing the moisture level. A cool-mist humidifier releases water into a wick and then a fan breaks the liquid into small droplets expelling the vapor into the air and cooling the room.
The warm mist humidifier makes breathing more comfortable when you are in a cold
Environment, which is perfect for patients with bronchitis. Steaming is a significant therapeutic measure for dealing with bronchitis, and the warm mist is the closest humidifier method that releases steam. You do want to be careful when using the warm mist humidifier due to its heating element that can be a potential burn hazard.
The cool mist humidifier is also almost as effective as the warm mist because it helps in relieving cough and moisturizes a dry nose. It is also much safer and covers a larger area than the warm mist humidifier.
While a warm mist humidifier is more effective, the cool mist humidifier provides better features, benefits, and safer operating conditions. If you do buy a warm mist humidifier, make sure to use it carefully.
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What does a humidifier do for a cough?
The answer is quite simple. A humidifier, whether warm or cold, uses water to produce a mist that is released into the atmosphere soothing your cough when you inhale it. It increases the level of humidity in the atmosphere getting rid of illnesses and dryness in the air that can irritate you and cause you to cough.
By increasing the humidity level of the room space, your throat and nasal passages are moisturized easing your breathing and reducing mucus secretions. Coughs that are due to irritated mucous walls will be soothed by the continuous moisture in the air.
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Can a humidifier make a cough worse?
Yes, it can. But it will all depend on how you use the humidifier. The primary purpose of the humidifier is to increase the moisture level in the atmosphere. This device should be used moderately and under specific conditions to ensure its effectiveness. If a humidifier is used incorrectly, you can possibly make your cough worse.
Before you use a humidifier, make sure the humidity level in the air is really low like in the wintertime or on a cold night. During the summer, humidity levels are naturally high, so if you add more moisture to the air, you can cause an increase in bacterial growth in the air, furniture, or walls, which can also cause an asthmatic reaction.
When you inhale bacteria in the air, you can increase symptoms like a cough or even cause new symptoms to develop. When using a humidifier, make sure you are careful and clean it regularly to avoid mold growth and air contamination. Also, always use distilled water to prevent white dust from minerals in the water to form, which can also cause you to cough.
How does a humidifier help bronchitis?
Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which leads to the release of a higher amount of mucus than normal. When you use either a cold or warm mist humidifier, you put moisture into the air while you breathe helping to clear the excess amount of mucus.
By lubricating your throat and nasal discharge passage, humidifiers help you breathe easier and more comfortably. With a high level of moisture, you will see less swelling and more healing.
Qualities to consider when purchasing the best humidifier for chronic bronchitis
- Size:
When it comes to humidifiers, the size of the machine correlates to the area that it can cover effectively. You should purchase a humidifier that will be able to release enough mist to soothe your cough no matter where you are in the room. The manufacturer should provide the area that the machine will effectively work in, but you can always do extra research to make sure it will work for the room you intend to use it in.
- Type of mist:
While a warm mist humidifier is most effective in soothing a cough, a cool-mist humidifier is known to be just as effective as a warm mist humidifier and is advised to be the best purchase for safety reasons. Warm mist humidifiers have been responsible for a high amount of burns each year, especially in children, due to the use of a heating element. Cool mist humidifiers are safer overall and also come with the same features and benefits of a warm mist humidifier.
- Humidistat:
Humidistats automatically monitor the humidity level in the atmosphere and then adjust it accordingly. When humidity levels are high, the device will turn off. Once the humidity level drops to a certain preset point, the machine will kick in again working to raise the humidity level again by adding add more moisture into the air.
- Safety features:
You will find many humidifiers with safety features like auto shut down and tip-over protection. These handy features help with ease of use and for added peace of mind.
- Timer function:
A timer function allows you to set your humidifier to suitable working hours. For example, you can set the humidifier to start just before you wake up or an hour before you get home from work. This allows the air in your home to be ready for you whenever you need it.
- Aromatherapy:
Devices with this function allow you to add essential oils that have an aroma and medicinal values that relieve coughs. This aroma is released along with the mist and, when it is inhaled, it reduces inflammation in your bronchial cords allowing you to breathe easier.
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Top 5 best humidifiers for coughing at night
1) Levoit Ultrasonic cool mist
Special features: Huge capacity, High quality, easy to refill, whisper quiet and aromatherapy
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Easy to clean and use, the Levoit Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier is box-shaped and comes with a transparent glass tank. The front side of the machine features a digital interface that displays the current humidity level in the room. This humidifier is designed to release both cool and warm mist, easing the need of having to choose between the two.
Built to be quiet, the Levoit Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier boasts a large tank that can hold 1.5 gallons that will last about 36 hours on the lowest setting and 12 hours on the highest. With the auto mode, it can maintain a preset humidity level and the remote function allows you to easily control it from a distance. With the aromatherapy pads, you can create a space to place essential oils, although the machine is not designed to add oil directly to the water.
This machine can conveniently serve a room size of about 400 square feet or more, but it will be less effective the larger the room is. When used in a room of approximately 800 square feet, the unit can raise the humidity between 5 and 10%, but in a 180 square foot apartment with 10-foot ceilings, it can raise the humidity level to about 60%. Keep in mind that it does release a small amount of white dust, which means you will be cleaning more often.
Lightweight and easy to move, the unit fits well on a nightstand or table. It is not advised to put it on a wooden floor, except somewhere you can put a towel in-between. And, make sure to clean the device at least every 5 to 6 days.
2) Honeywell Topfill Cool Mist Humidifier
Special features: High quality, 1.25 gallon tank, safetyfeatures and Ultra quiet
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The Honeywell Cool Mist Humidifier features a design with round curves on the edges and a dial knob that allows you to select your preferred level of mist output. You can visually measure the water level by viewing the thin portion of the water tank that is exposed. On the top, you will find the mist nozzle that allows for a 180-degree rotation, and you can quickly fill the tank by detaching the tank and putting it under a water tap or filling it with a pitcher while it remains in the unit.
With a straightforward set up, the Honeywell Cool Mist Humidifier is easy to use and is super quiet while working. It also features an adjustable humidity level and comes with a demineralization cartridge for those that live where there is predominantly hard water. The large tank has a 1.25-liter capacity that will last you for over 12 hours.
This humidifier is perfect for a small-sized room and is also effective at replacing humidity level in the place. It can keep the humidity in a room at between 40 and 60% during the winter.
3) Crane ultrasonic cool mist humidifier
Special features: Clean control, soothing relief, filterless, auto shut off sensor and 1 gallon tank
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The Crane Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier features the trademark crane teardrop shape and a curvy round design on the open end that acts as the nozzle for mist release. Designed with a 360-degree rotatable nozzle, this particular unit does not require a filter. It also doesn’t accumulate mold easily. It is recommended that you clean it daily, but keep in mind that it is difficult to clean especially the internal cylinder.
The Crane Cool Mist Humidifier is very durable with some customer reviews reporting usage of up to five years. The relatively average-sized tank will last between eight and nine hours when full. This is a very quiet device that does have an occasional bubbling bursting sound.
Overall, the Crane Cool Mist Humidifier is suitable for a small to medium-sized room of about 250 square feet, but for larger sized rooms it might prove ineffective. You should not use it with essential oils as it may cause the unit to fail.
4) Taotronic TT-AH024 cool mist humidifier
Special features: Practical design, large capacity tank, safe and stable
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The Taotronic Cool Mist Humidifier has a lightweight and portable design. It features a handle on top making it easy to carry around the house when necessary. This machine works well and releases a gallon of water in about 14 hours.
This quiet humidifier is not bulky and is easy to move. It holds an impressive four liters of water and works really well at adding humidity to any 20 x 20-foot room. You can actually see the mist coming out of the nozzle, which becomes more intense as you turn up the setting.
It is advised to use distilled water with the Taotronic Cool Mist Humidifier thanks to the high mist output rate. Otherwise, you will see mineral and salt deposits in the form of white dust all-around your home. With the auto-shutoff feature that turns the machine off when water is completely drained, it is safe to use without fear of overheating.
5) Pure enrichment Astaire ultrasonic cool mist humidifier
Special Features: Optional night light, automatic shut off, 1.5 litre water tank
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The Pure Enrichment Astaire is a great looking unit that features curved edges. It is a compact and portable unit that is easy to carry around the house. Plus, it is easy to monitor the water level in the unit.
This is an extremely quiet unit that you won’t even know is on. Simple to clean with just vinegar, this machine releases just the right amount of moisture into a room, even when it is on the lowest setting. It is advised to place a board underneath the unit to stop it from damaging the surface of anything you place it on.
You will have zero problems with leaks or refilling the unit. It holds 1.5 liters making it large enough to run throughout the night or even two as long as it does not run more than eight hours each night. Overall, the Pure Enrichment Astaire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier is an excellent device to have and is well worth the price.
Final Verdict: Best humidifiers for bronchitis
The Levoit Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier is the best humidifier for bronchitis thanks to its mist releasing function. Allowing both cold and warm mist to fill the room as well as its numerous automated features, this is an easy to use machine that makes those that suffer from bronchitis a lot more comfortable.
Coming in second, the Honey well Topfill Cool Mist Humidifier features a demineralization cartridge that helps reduce the need for distilled water. It also has a large capacity and does well in raising the humidity level in the rooms where it is placed in.
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