You are hereHome  /  Baby  /  Health Ask Dr. Sears: Humidifiers or Vaporizers?All of a sudden, you hear it.That nasty, loud sound coming from your little one that just irks your ears.You know what it means… a virus most likely.It interrupts your day and your night, it makes your child irritable, and it leaves you exhausted.Thankfully there’s help… simple, natural help.Keep reading to find out how a steam vaporizer for cough and congestion can help.Coughs, in my opinion, are obnoxious.They are just plain irritating.They hurt, they’re annoying, and you can’t really control them.Plus, there are so many different types of coughs and natural treatments for each kind… keeping up with it all can feel really overwhelming.Coughs can also be classified in two different ways.A productive cough means that each time a cough is made, mucous comes up from the lungs, and is the bodies way of clearing unwanted nasties from the respiratory tract.Many times it’s referred to as a “wet cough”.

These are the kinds of coughs that can turn into bronchitis and pneumonia if coughs are suppressed (you don’t cough) or if medicines that keep you from coughing are taken.A non-productive cough would be the opposite.Nothing comes up, and these are sometimes referred to as a “dry cough”.vaporizer bau gosongThese are usually a result of an irritant or the signal that a cold is coming to a close.bionaire vaporizerEither way, both types of coughs can hurt and be really frustrating.jual vaporizer bec bandungThankfully there are natural methods that we mama’s can use to help our little ones with those coughs.vaporizer colds babies

There are many recipes for cough syrups that can help sooth your little one’s throat as well as help the body to get better quicker.The great thing is that you probably have most of these cough ingredients in your kitchen now.vaporizer center pinBut beyond making a DIY cough syrup, there are other things you can use that will help to loosen congestion in the lungs and soothe those spasm-like coughs.vaporizer containerWhen your child is congested or coughing a lot, you can always go for the old home remedy of going into the bathroom and turning your shower on to produce steam or even heating a pot of water on the stove and putting yourself and your child safely over the steam that comes up, but with the new steam vaporizers there’s really no need to go to such drastic measures unless you’re in a pinch.Using a steam vaporizer is great because it adds moisture and humidity into the air allowing your child to breath it in.

That warm steam helps to loosen the congestion that’s built up in the lungs so your kiddo can better cough it up as well as sooth the throat if it’s dry.There isn’t sufficient enough evidence to show that breathing in steam reduces the duration or severity of a cold, but it sure does have good results when it comes to helping relax coughing fits.When it comes to choosing a vaporizer, you can go with this cheaper steam vaporizer that can be used to put steam into a whole room or you can use the personal steam vaporizers that give you a good bit of steam right to the face.Just be sure to be careful of getting to close to these so you don’t get burnt… especially with a child.Now, beyond just using a steam vaporizer to release steam in the room, you can also use them along with some DIY concoctions that can help calm those coughs even more.Most of these concoctions include the use of menthol or camphor essential oil which help to open the sinuses or at least make you feel like you can breathe better, but you can always go with a synergy blend of oils that’s specific to breathing better.

This is the one I have, but doTERRA and Young Living also have really great options too.One option you have to boost your vaporizer’s effects on congestion and coughs is if you get a vaporizer that has a place for menthol sticks to be inserted, you can either buy them or better yet, make them yourself.You also have the option of putting essential oils in the medicine cup that comes on most vaporizers so that the steam picks up the oils as it comes out and distributes them in the air.Some vaporizers even work when you put the essential oils straight in the water.The only caution with putting your oils in the water is that essential oils tend to damage plastics so it could damage your vaporizer over a period of time.I’d only do that when using the cheaper versions.UPDATE: Use caution when using menthol essential oils around children under 6 years old.Some children can experience decreased respiration.Stay tuned to upcoming posts because I’ll be sharing how to make DIY menthol pads soon.

Subscribe to the blog posts below so you don’t miss it!!The next time you find yourself suffering with a cough, your doctor may recommend that you use a humidifier.Humidifiers are a relatively inexpensive and safe way to help relieve a cough, whether it is caused by dry air or an infection such as a cold or the flu.However, there are several things you should know so you can get the most benefit from these devices and avoid some of the dangers that can occur with their use.A humidifier moisturizes the air, which helps keep your mouth and throat moist and less irritated.It can also help loosen secretions in your throat and lungs, so they are easier to cough up.Both warm- and cool-mist humidifiers can be helpful, and there are no studies that recommend one over the other.Therefore, the choice between cool or warm mist comes down to personal preference.Beware of burns when using warm-mist humidifiers around children or pets.Some humidifiers feature a humidistat, which allows you to control the amount of humidity -- ideally 30 percent to 50 percent.

You can also choose between a simple table-top humidifier for a single room or larger versions that humidify several rooms or even the entire house.Mold grows in moist areas, and therefore humidifiers can provide a welcome environment for these organisms.They can then enter your lungs when you breathe in the humidified air, leading to an infection.Stagnant water can harbor the growth of bacteria as well, and cases of Legionnaires disease have been associated with humidifier use.After each use of your humidifier, clean it and allow it to dry completely before reusing it or storing it away.A study released in the January 2014 issue of “American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine” described a lung disease associated with the use of certain humidifier disinfectants.Lung injury in these children resulted in shortness of breath, rapidly worsening lung symptoms and even death.Presumably the disinfectants left deposits in the humidifier that were then dispersed through the humidified air into the children.

So, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and only use cleaning agents that are recommended in the instructions.If your cough is caused by an infection, a humidifier is considered supportive treatment, meaning it offers comfort but does not affect the course of an illness.There are other supportive measures you can use for a cough, as well.They include getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding cigarette smoke.Cough drops or hard candy may also provide relief.If a cough becomes serious or won't go away, it’s time to put the humidifier aside and head to your doctor’s office.A cough can be due to a range of illnesses such as pneumonia, acid reflux, asthma or even heart disease.Therefore, seek immediate medical attention if your cough has lasted more than 2 weeks or if your cough brings up thick, discolored mucus or blood-tinged fluid.Also obtain immediate medical care if your cough is accompanied by a high fever, chest pain, wheezing or difficulty breathing.Gain 2 pounds per week Gain 1.5 pounds per week Gain 1 pound per week Gain 0.5 pound per week Maintain my current weight Lose 0.5 pound per week Lose 1 pound per week Lose 1.5 pounds per week Lose 2 pounds per week Home Remedies for a Humidity-Related Cough Wet Cough Remedies Can a Cool Mist Humidifier Be Used in the Summer?