Does a Humidifier Help with Snoring?

Is sleeping with a humidifier in your bedroom likely to stop you snoring? We take a look at different humidifiers and if they can offer a snoring solution.

Can a Humidifier Help You to Stop Snoring?

Is a humidifier a solution to help you stop snoring? Many people successfully use their humidifiers as anti-snoring aids so it’s certainly a solution that can work.

However, just because it works for other people doesn’t mean it will work for you. It depends on what’s making you snore in the first place.

If you are thinking of investing in a humidifier because you hope it will help with snoring it may be best not to get your hopes too high.

Think of it as a potential sleep redeemer for you and your partner because it’s possible it may work. It’s also possible it may not, but there is nothing stopping you from buying a cheap humidifier and giving it a go.

What is a Humidifier and How Does It Work?

A humidifier is an appliance that adds extra moisture to the air. They come in many different shapes and sizes and it’s even possible to have humidifiers built into your home.

A Look at the Different Humidifier Types

There are several different types of humidifier:

1. Central humidifiers (built into your home’s air conditioning unit)
2. Impeller humidifiers (contain high-speed rotating discs that release a cool mist)
3. Evaporators (fan-powered units that blow moisture into the room via a special filter)
4. Steam vaporizers (electrically-powered units that heat water and then cool it before blowing it into the air)
5. Ultrasonic humidifiers (emit mist into the room via ultrasonic vibration. Depending on the version, the mist can be warm or cold)

Unless you have allergies or another problem you are certain will be eased by the presence of such units, you may want to choose a cheap and cheerful portable option.

Going to the expense of installing a central humidifier into your home does not make good sense unless you are 100% certain it will help with your snoring.

Steam vaporizers are also very expensive so they are not worth gambling on either. You can buy a good portable warm or cool mist humidifier for $40 – $50.

Humidifiers as a Possible Snoring Solution

Snoring is a common condition that affects men and women all over the world.

Apart from waking up the afflicted individual, snoring also often keeps their partners awake. The resulting lack of sufficient quality sleep is no good for anyone concerned.

There are many reasons why people snore when they are asleep. Indoor air quality is just one of them. Women have a tendency to snore while pregnant. Too much alcohol and spicy food are other reasons for snoring.

If your snoring is not the result of a medical condition or other factors that may come into play, using a home humidifier may be a good way to make your snoring go away.

In some cases, snoring is the result of a dry mouth. This can happen in rooms that lack sufficient humidity because the air you breathe in is too dry.

Dry air also often contains allergens that may irritate the throat.

This kind of irritation may cause the delicate throat tissues to swell sufficiently to partially obstruct normal air-flow. The situation may be particularly bad for people who have allergies.

Apart from restricting airflow and causing snoring, an overly-dry sleep environment may also encourage coughing and nosebleeds. If either issue exists alongside your snoring, it could be a sign that the air in your home is too dry.

Waking up with a dry mouth is another possible indication the air in your home is lacking in humidity. As is a tendency to have dry skin.

As well as potentially providing help with snoring, a good humidifier may considerably improve your breathing.

Adding a couple of drops of peppermint or eucalyptus oil to the water in your humidifier is another good way to keep your air passages clear and keep your snoring under control.

How to Choose the Best Humidifier to Help you Stop Snoring

Portable humidifiers are generally the best type to buy if you only need to increase room humidity to help with snoring. One of the best things about this type is you can take them with you wherever you go. That’s great if you often need to go on business trips. You can also take them with you quite easily when you go on vacation.

Apart from their low price tag, ultrasonic humidifiers are also very kid-friendly. That’s got to be a major consideration if you are a parent who snores.

Bearing in mind the fact that snoring is a problem that goes hand-in-hand with sleep, you also need to be sure the humidifier you pick is nice and quiet to run.

Power is also an important consideration. If your bedroom is small, most good portable humidifiers should be powerful enough to get the room humidity to where it needs to be.

However, if you sleep in a large bedroom you need to be sure the humidifier you choose has the necessary power.

Fortunately, humidifier manufacturers provide guidance on room size and product suitability.

All you need to do is read the online marketing information or take a look at the specifications on the box.

However, before you run out and buy a portable humidifier don’t forget it’s presence in your bedroom may not help with your snoring.

Some people snore because they are obese or overweight. Others snore due to sleep apnea or certain other medical conditions.

The position you sleep in may also reduce or increase snoring. Drinking too much alcohol can encourage snoring as well. As can smoking tobacco or having nasal obstructions or allergies.

The Best Way to Use a Humidifier to Control Snoring

If you are using a humidifier specifically as a snoring solution, the best time to switch it on is around an hour before you plan to go to bed.

Switching on your humidifier an hour before you hit the sack gives the apparatus plenty of time to add extra moisture to the air around your bed.

You won’t be able to switch the humidifier off until the following morning. It needs to remain running throughout the night. Ideally, you should try and position it within five feet of your bed.

In some cases, the extra humidity in the air will successfully prevent snoring. However, there are no guarantees. When it comes to snoring solutions, there is no one size that fits all.

If you live in an area where the humidity is naturally high in the summer or at certain other times of the year, running a humidifier will not be necessary. In fact, it will be a very bad idea.

Increasing humidity levels too much will only serve to make your room feel too warm and humid. It may also encourage the growth of mildew and mold. Choosing a humidifier that is too large for your room may do a similar thing.

Summary

Using the correct-size humidifier in the right manner may be a good way to reduce or prevent snoring. It all depends on why you normally snore in the first place.

If you are overweight or obese, there’s a good chance a humidifier won’t do a lot to help. Eating less and exercising more may be a better option.

Apart from helping you to stop snoring., such positive lifestyle changes will also improve your overall health.

If you think your snoring may be due to sleep apnea or another medical condition, the best thing to do is ask your doctor for advice.

However, if all that rasping and snorting really is due to breathing in too much dry air, a good humidifier could be an absolute god-send.

It’s also an extremely cost-effective snoring solution. You buy it once and get to use it for years.

If snoring is a problem for you, take a look in the mirror or step on your scales. Ask yourself, “Do I look fat?”

Next, think about your normal health. Is it generally good or bad?

Finally, take note of how you feel when you wake up each morning. Is your throat dry? Have you got a morning cough?

Ponder these considerations good and hard. It’s a good way to ascertain why you snore in the first place and if a humidifier is likely to help. Above all else, be honest with yourself. It may prevent you from investing in a humidifier you do not need.

Some Humidifier FAQs

Will a humidifier help me stop snoring?

It may, but it’s also possible it may not. It all depends on the reason why you are snoring in the first place. If you are snoring because the air in your bedroom is too dry, a good humidifier may help you to stop.

Are humidifiers expensive?

The cost of humidifiers varies a great deal. Installing a large humidifier that increases humidity throughout your entire home will cost a lot of money.

However, there are plenty of cheap portable ones that may do the trick for you if you sleep with one next to your bed.

Can humidifiers help with other things apart from snoring?

Yes. Humidifiers have the potential to improve the quality of your life in several ways.

They may be especially beneficial during the winter months because your home heating system can dry out the air.

Apart from (possibly) helping stop snoring, humidifiers may help prevent the spread of airborne viruses.

The results of one study suggest maintaining an indoor relative humidity of 40% or higher may significantly reduce the selectivity of aerosolized viruses.

By helping maintain optimum humidity, humidifiers may also prevent dry skin, relieve allergy symptoms, and help make your home feel warmer.