If you are suffering from bronchitis or other respiratory problems, finding the best humidifiers for coughing at night can significantly affect your comfort level. In this post, we will share valuable information about the causes of night coughs and how a humidifier can help relieve those symptoms. We will also discuss a few features you should look at when choosing a humidifier specifically for coughing at night.
Does humidifier help with cough?
The short answer is yes.
Dry air irritates our airways, and the natural body reaction to that is coughing to reverse this dry irritation. Unfortunately, the more we cough, the worse this irritation can get, producing even more coughing. During the day, you can help that by drinking water ora soothing cup of tea. But at night, when your energy is focused on sleeping, there is usually no guard for that except for finding a way to make the air in the room more humid.
Here comes the role of a humidifier for coughing at night. The primary function of a humidifier is to add moisture to the air. This will help in soothing the throat and respiratory system and, ultimately, help reduce night coughs. Humidifiers help you breathe more accessible and comfortably by lubricating your throat and nasal discharge passage. You will see less swelling and more healing with a high moisture level.
I should say here that a humidifier is not a cure for coughing, and if the symptoms persist, you should see a doctor. Another thing to consider is that if you overuse a humidifier for a long time, it might cause the growth of mold and bacteria in the room, which might even worsen the coughing. So you should open the window during sunny days, and let fresh air ventilate the bedroom often.
Also Read: Best Humidifier for dry nose
Warm or cool Mist humidifier for Coughing?
The principal function of a humidifier is to increase the humidity level in the air. There are two main types of humidifiers. A warm mist humidifier has a heating element that heats water, dispersing steam into the room and increasing the moisture level. A cool-mist humidifier releases water into a wick, 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 in a cold environment, perfect for patients with bronchitis. Steaming is a significant therapeutic measure for bronchitis, and the warm mist is the closest humidifier method that releases steam. You want to be careful when using the warm mist humidifier due to its heating element, which can be a potential burn hazard.
The cool mist humidifier is also almost as effective as the warm mist because it helps relieve 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 release a mist into the atmosphere, soothing your cough when inhaling 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. The continuous moisture in the air will soothe coughs due to irritated mucous walls.
Read here: Best humidifier for a single room
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 effectiveness. If a humidifier is misused, you can worsen your cough.
Before using a humidifier, ensure 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 from forming, which can also cause you to cough.
Qualities to consider when purchasing the best humidifiers for coughing at night
1. Size
When it comes to humidifiers, the size of the machine correlates to the area it can cover effectively. You should purchase a humidifier that will release enough mist to soothe your cough no matter where you are in the room. The manufacturer should provide the area where the machine will effectively work, but you can always do extra research to ensure it will work for the room you intend to use it in.
2. Type of mis
While a warm mist humidifier is most effective in soothing a cough, a cool-mist humidifier is just as effective as a warm mist humidifier. It is advised to be the best purchase for safety reasons. Warm mist humidifiers have been responsible for many 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 as a warm mist humidifier.
3. 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 specific preset point, the machine will kick in again, raising the humidity level by adding more moisture into the air.
4. Safety features
Many humidifiers have safety features like auto shutdown and tip-over protection. These handy features help with ease of use and added peace of mind.
5. Timer function
A timer function allows you to set your humidifier to suitable working hours. For example, you can select the humidifier to start just before you wake up or an hour before you leave work. This allows the air in your home to be ready whenever needed.
6. Aromatherapy
Devices with this function allow you to add essential oils with an aroma and medicinal value 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.
Also Read: Best humidifier for dry eyes
Our picks for the best humidifiers for coughing at night
1) Levoit Ultrasonic cool mist
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 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, lasting about 36 hours on the lowest setting and 12 hours on the highest. The auto mode can maintain a preset humidity level, and the remote function allows you to control it from a distance easily. 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%. Remember that it releases 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. Putting it on a wooden floor is not advised, except somewhere you can put a towel in-between. And make sure to clean the device at least every 5 to 6 days.
Pros
- Touch and remote control
- Warm and cold mist
- Quiet operation
- Aromatherapy pads
- Auto mode
- Auto shut off
Cons
- It is on the expensive side
2) Pure Guardian H4810AR Ultrasonic Warm & Cool Mist Humidifier
This humidifier is undoubtedly one of the top products regarding class and actual performance in effecting a change in humidity levels. Being made by the Pure Guardian brand, be sure to expect much. It has a neat and curvy design, which splits the unit with the upper part consisting of the tank, and the lower, the rest of the humidifier. The front side harbors the control buttons for toggling between various device settings.
With a 2-gallon-sized water tank, expect a rock-solid backup time from this device, lasting up to 120hrs per complete fill. It is also suitable for large spaces and can conveniently serve up to 600 sqft in an area while effectively controlling humidity levels and alleviating sore throat problems. The water tank is designed with anti-silver treatment, whose principal function is to restrict the growth and accumulation of molds in the unit, hence guaranteeing a consistently clean and healthy mist production.
A standout feature in this device is the presence of a dual rotating nozzle that allows it to release mist produced in different directions, covering more ground and raising humidity faster than a regular humidifier with a single nozzle. While operating, it blends with the atmosphere to give a noiseless performance. As soon as the water gets low in the tank, an indicator pops up to alert the user to top up, and if ignored, the device shuts off as soon as water levels get too low.
The top side of this device contains a night light that gives it a glowing appearance at night (you can toggle it on or off), adding a touch of beauty to the room. While its primary purpose is to disperse mists, an aromatherapy option also exists whereby essential oils can add a great scent to the atmosphere.
Pros
- Long runtime
- Large water tank
- Suitable for large spaces
- Quiet operation
- Silver clean treated water tank
- Wide-area coverage
- Essential oil tray
- Low water level indicator and timer
Cons
- White dust problems
3) Crane ultrasonic cool mist humidifier
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 quickly. You should clean it daily, but remember that it is difficult to clean, especially the internal cylinder.
The Crane Cool Mist Humidifier is 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 complete. This is a very quiet device that does have an occasional bubbling bursting sound.
The Crane Cool Mist Humidifier is suitable for a small to medium-sized room of about 250 square feet, but it might prove ineffective for larger rooms. You should not use it with essential oils as it may cause the unit to fail.
Pros
- Auto shutoff
- Quiet operation
- 360degree nozzle
- Cheap
- Durable
Cons
- It is suitable only for small-sized rooms
- It does not have automated functions
4) Honeywell HCM350W cool mist humidifier
This reasonably sized evaporative humidifier features curves all around, giving it a slick and attractive look. The Honeywell HCM350W Cool Mist Humidifier is built with a relatively large tank of about 4L that comes with a handle that makes it very easy to remove for refills.
The device is built to be extremely quiet, even when running at the highest speed, which I found to be the case during the three weeks of me testing the unit.
The humidifier has a filter to prevent white dust from being released with the mist when non-distilled water is used. Filters for this device lasted me about 4-6 weeks.
In cold weather, running at high speed, the Honeywell HCM350W is capable of raising a 625 square foot apartment to 25% and can peak up at 35% in warm weather. For the most effective performance, I would recommend you use it in rooms lesser than 400 square feet.
This is a quiet, easy-to-clean, and fill-in humidifier that comes with a large tank. It’s not as large as my last proposition, which is both its advantage and disadvantage. Plus, it can accommodate non-distilled water thanks to its filter design and anti-bacterial treatment, which I found extremely practical. You can just fill in the tank and not worry about anything else.
Pros
- Quiet operation
- Easy to clean
- Large tank
- Accurate filter
Cons
- Doesn’t support essential oil usage
- Doesn’t have an automatic shut-off
- Expensive filter replacement
5) Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier
The Vicks Warm Humidifier is shaped like your average everyday blender. It features a transparent water tank and a control knob that allows you to adjust the mist output level easily. The water tank has a large opening for easy filling and cleaning.
This humidifier can be a bit noisy while operating, but it helps raise the humidity level of a tiny to medium-sized room of, I’d say about 300 square feet. It also has an inhalant dish where you can pour additives to be diffused with your warm mist. Use distilled water in this unit so it doesn’t scale up or get rusty.
There is also an auto shut-off feature when the water runs out that helps to protect your device from burning out and keeps your family safe from fire hazards.
On a slower setting, this humidifier is quiet enough to be suitable for use at night. But it lacks a humidistat, so you don’t really know how humid the air that you’re breathing is. Compared to other units that have this add-on, I thought it was a bit of a letdown.
Pros
- Auto shutoff
- Cost-friendly
- Suitable for medium-sized rooms
Cons
- Lack of humidistat
- Lack of timer function
Final Verdict: The best 2 humidifiers for coughing at night
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.
Falling short by quite a distance to a second-place is the Pure Guardian H4810AR Ultrasonic Warm & Cool Mist Humidifier. With the presence of a dual rotating mist nozzle, it quickly raises humidity levels in a suitable environment. In short, its performance is impressive. A silver clean treated water tank and a remarkable tank size with a runtime to match also ensures it’s on top amongst similar products.
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