| By :
Cedric Welsch
There are literally dozens of remedies for cold and flu-like symptoms, both pharmaceutical and natural, that can aid in easing those conditions. Hot drinks or soup as well as cold remedies can often do the trick, however according to the National Institute of Health; a humidifier is one of the most effective ways to relieve congestion. The common cold, flu, strep throat or sinus infections are all illnesses that affect the nose, throat, mouth and nasal passages. All the tunnels and passages in your head can become clogged with mucus that simply will not be relieved without taking action. Humidifiers can be an ideal choice for relieving these symptoms. There are two basic types of humidifiers - cold mist and warm mist. Overall, any type of humidifier performs essentially the same function, which is to put moisture into the air. The temperature of the water vapor however is effective for different symptoms. For example a warm mist or steam humidifier is most effective at relieving congestion because warmer water vapor can more easily penetrate and soften mucous membranes within a person's body. A cool mist humidifier on the other hand is more effective at relieving pain and swelling in the nose and throat. Medicated inhalant in powder or liquid form can be placed into most steam humidifiers and vaporizers for delivery through the air. Based on your particular symptoms, either of these strategies could be used. Cool mist humidifiers are available in three different types: impeller, evaporative or ultrasonic. Ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers make a cool mist by the use of ultrasonic vibrations, evaporative humidifiers use a fan to blow the air through some type of water absorbent material, and impeller humidifiers use a disk that rotates at a high speed to produce water droplets that are in turn blown into the air. Warm mist or steam humidifiers boil water to disburse a warm vapor into the air. Of course there are benefits and drawbacks with all humidifier types. Warm mist or steam humidifiers can get very hot and the risk of burns to the operator or small children is greater than with cool mist humidifiers. In contrast, cool mist humidifiers operate at low temperatures so bacteria and germs are more likely to thrive. Evaporative humidifiers that use a water absorbent wick filter can become dirty if they aren't cared for properly; bacteria can be blown into the air and actually make your cold or flu worse. One of the best ways to learn about the pros and cons of the various humidifier types is to consult reviews on cool mist humidifiers and warm mist humidifiers.
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