
Humidifiers can help snoring triggered by breathing in dry air. They can be a great way to help snoring caused by nasal congestion and throat irritation.
Dry air can aggravate the tissues of your nose and throat, causing irritation and inflammation that can worsen snoring. Additionally, dry and dehydrated airways have thicker mucus which increases surface tension and heightens the risk of snoring [1].
A humidifier on its own probably won’t cure your snoring. Used in conjunction with other remedies and techniques, a humidifier can be a great addition to help snoring triggered by:
If you intend on using your humidifier at night (which is a good idea if you want to combat snoring), it is important that the unit is quiet enough to not disrupt your sleep. Humidifiers that use fans are generally louder than those that don’t.
Smaller humidifiers will add moisture to a smaller area, but are easier to move around your home. Consider the reservoir volume; how much water can it take and how long with that volume last. Some humidifiers come with an automatic shutoff feature for when the tank runs dry.
Smaller humidifiers are usually cheaper. Make sure this isn’t a false economy as the cheaper models will probably need replacing sooner. Also consider the mechanisms; if the unit uses a filter system, these will often need replacing. Make sure any replacements are easy to get hold of and not too expensive.
Anything that is perpetually wet will start to accumulate bacteria, mold and fungi. Certain types of humidifier are easier to clean than others, with warm mist types using heat to kill the majority of harmful spores.
Those with children or pets should consider the potentially harmful effects of hot water in certain types of humidifier. Pay attention to the build quality to ensure against leakage. Read user reviews, and check the length of the cord to make sure it can be placed safely and not tripped over and spilled.
Humidifiers can release either cool or warm vapors. If battling seasonal colds and allergies, think about what season you are likely to use the device. Also consider to your general climate. Warm mist in cool environments, and cool mist in warm environments are the ideal matches.
There are two distinct types of air purifier: cool mist and warm mist. Both add moisture to the air and neither is better than the other at alleviating snoring and other symptoms.
However, there are some key practical differences that should be considered when purchasing a humidifier for your snoring.
As the name suggests, these humidifiers add moisture to the air using cool water. There are two distinct types of cool mist humidifier:
Cool mist humidifiers tend to be the more popular option. But like everything, they have their good and bad points:
Pros of a cool mist humidifier:
Cons of a cool mist humidifier:
Warm mist humidifiers have a heating element that boils the water in the reservoir to disperse steam to the surroundings. This gives it some distinct advantages over cool mist humidifiers.
Pros of a warm mist humidifier:
Cons of a warm mist humidifier:
At SnoreLab, we like the Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier. It doesn’t use any filters, it’s small enough to be easily moved around the house, it’s quiet, easy to clean and can be used with Vicks medicated aromas.