Warm Mist Humidifier Products

A warm mist humidifier is not suggested for use by pharmacists or physicians. They were a long time recommendation, because it was believed that the warm mist was more comforting during a cold or flu, but as it turns out the comfort that it provided was not worth the side effects it caused.

How It Works

Any humidifier works by having water in a reservoir that is heated up by an electrical element that converts that water into steam. A lot of folks use humidifiers while battling a cold or other respiratory disease. The humidifier adds moisture to the air and helps to open up the nasal and bronchial passages and makes it easier to breath. These items are typically made from plastic bodies with a nozzle that comes out from the body and usually it can be pointed in different directions to add moisture to specific areas closer to where the user is sitting or lying down.  All humidifiers work on the same principal regardless of the cost of the humidifier.

Cool Air Humidifiers

The cool air humidifiers work on the same principal and convert water into a mist though it is done with a cooling process instead of a heating process. Where the element is in a warm air humidifier it is replaced by a cooling system to cool the air down and convert it into a frosty type of mist. These types of humidifiers can really chill a room.

Warm Air Humidifiers and Bacteria

After much testing and studying it has come to pass that warm air humidifiers are actually not the best tool to use in a sick room. The warming process actually is a favorable environment for bacteria and viruses to grow. This can actually cause more harm than good for the patient. They can be safely used if they are cleaned using a disinfectant often and are kept at a safe distance from the user, although this seems counterintuitive because the purpose is to relieve the dry air around the patient to provide relief, and if it is kept away from the patient it cannot provide much relief.
These are much more comfortable to use in the sick room than a cool air humidifier, but there is a very real chance that they can compound illness. Humidifiers are very helpful tools in the sick room; it is a trade off though in making the decision to use a warm air humidifier for comfort with the potential that illness can be compounded.