If you suffer from hay fever you’ll know what a blessing it is to be able to sit indoors in spring and summer with all the windows and doors shut, keeping the airborne pollen out while still being kept cool and comfortable. Then, in winter, you don’t keep the windows open as you have central heating and it would just let the heat out. In fact, you never need have fresh air in your home again!

And that’s where the problems start.

Air con and central heating can really dry out the air in a house and a lack of moisture in the air can lead to dehydration. You might ask “So what? I’ll just have another glass of water and I’m good!”

But it’s not only you who’s affected by dry air. You might also see:

• Wood shrink and warp meaning that varnish or paintwork can crack and chip, joints become loose, doors and windows start to stick or let drafts in

• Plants drying out and looking unhealthy or even dying because they need watering so much more frequently

• House dust becoming an ever more common problem. Dry air lets dust move about in the air more than moist air does. This means that it can get everywhere more easily making cleaning a harder job than it needs be.

Air conditioning units can become very expensive; if they are set too high or there’s a window open elsewhere in the home, an air conditioner will keep on working until the temperature is reached.

If your air conditioner is the wrong size it won’t work properly, insomuch as one that is too small won’t cool the whole home, just a room or at best a floor in a house while too big a unit will be difficult to control adequately, blasting out too much cold air and becoming a nuisance to adjust correctly.

Another problem that people experience is a health one too, the dry air makes eyes, noses and throats dry, even if you do increase the amount of water you drink. Skin can get dry and scaly while your hair becomes dull and brittle. And these symptoms aren’t restricted to humans, pets will suffer in much the same way, tropical birds which evolved in a particularly humid climate will become especially vulnerable to the effects of dry air.

So what’s the solution?

You could go without your air con. But that means overheating in the summer, a return to the stung eyes, streaming nose and coughing fits of a summer suffering from hay fever. Not really much of a health benefit at all.

The other answer is to consider investing in a humidifier. Now, the idea of having one machine to cool and dry the air and another to put the moisture back in might seem a bit like wearing a belt and braces but all things considered it makes sound sense. Dry air is more of a side effect than an intentional product of the air conditioner and so fixing the problem is something that should be considered. Not only does it make the air feel fresher, it prevents all of the problems listed above, although if things like furniture or antiques are warped it can’t fix them although it can prevent them from getting worse.

Of course they’re not without drawbacks of their own, again, the wrong size of humidifier will prove inefficient, too small and it won’t be able to deal with the space it’s supposed to be humidifying, too big and you run the risk of creating a whole different set of problems with damp and condensation.

As we discussed before, humidifiers can help you feel more comfortable when you have a cold or the flu by suppressing dust and keeping you from dehydrating too quickly. That means they also help when you first switch on the heating and it throws up all that dust.

Of course it’s not just humans who suffer when the heat comes on, the lack of moisture in the air and the increased amount of dust will make your pets pretty miserable too. Cats and dogs, birds and hamsters all feel the affects of a dryer atmosphere, they’re just not able to tell you about it (with the obvious exception of parrots of course)! Not only do pets become miserable but dry air can also have a detrimental affect on fixtures and fittings around the home as they shrink and warp thanks to the aridity of the air.

As With All Things, Balance Is The Key

Of course it’s important to keep a balance, too much moisture in the winter, when you naturally have all your doors and windows shut, can lead to damp, condensation and therefore mould. Because fungal spores only need a little moisture to thrive keeping the balance correct is vitally important.

If you keep to this checklist you should be able to keep a healthy atmosphere while also keeping your family, pets and plants happy too.

*The ideal level of humidity is between 25% and 35%, more than that and mould spores can start to grow and spread, any less and dry air and dust become problematic.

*Make sure you use your extractor fans when bathing or cooking as these activities can send humidity levels rocketing, interfering with the central heating/humidifier balance.

*Use HEPA filtration and vacuum cleaners to sweep the air and furnishings regularly as they will remove dust which has been suppressed but still remains in carpeting, bedding and seating.

*Try and prevent children from playing in mouldy environments when out doors. Dank sheds and garages, wooded area in parkland will all contain spores which will adhere to clothing and can then begin growing when clothes are taken off or put away.

*Make sure the entire family washes their hands with antibacterial or alcohol cleansers in order to avoid bacterial or viral infection as much as possible.

*Keep your humidifier clean and change the water regularly.

Follow these simple tips and you should have a happier, healthier winter.

Now, we’d all like to do all we can when it comes to alleviating our children’s suffering, not least because it alleviates our own! But paediatricians are pointing out that not all remedies are as effective when it comes to children as they are commonly perceived.

Medicating Children Unsupervised Can Cause More Problems Than It Solves

That’s not good news for a lot of people. While there’s still the placebo affect, many doctors and health advisors say that giving children homeopathic treatments have no measureable benefits while giving young children over the counter medication can cause more problems than they solve or have unknown side affects. Using medication for children under six isn’t recommended without a doctor’s direct instruction, and supplements such as vitamins and Echinacea have not been proven to cure, nor relieve winter illnesses.

In fact the general consensus of opinion seems to be to provide plenty of fluids, rest and hugs.

Time and patience are definitely among the most important factors in keeping children healthy during the colder months. Hydration, nutrition and rest are among the best remedies for children and adults, so, while humidifiers aren’t proven to be beneficial in either prevention or treatment of colds and flu, here are a few facts that you might want to bear in mind if you have a school aged family and you want to avoid the worst of winter infections.

+Humidifiers suppress dust, that means that there are less airborne irritants to get into the airways and aggravate sensitive throat and bronchial membranes.

+Humidifiers slow dehydration. As it’s important to remain hydrated a humidifier will prevent excessive moisture being lost thought the skin, eyes and breath. In turn this means that the ill will feel comfortable for longer.

Sometimes Doing Nothing Is The Best Option

While supplements, vitamins and Echinacea don’t seem to cure or relieve ‘flu and mediation isn’t recommended for the under sixes, doing nothing might be the healthiest option as many as six percent of hospital and casualty department admissions in children under 12 are related to medication that is available over the counter being incorrectly administered.

Dr Ran Goldman said that: “parents perceive over the counter drugs as safer than prescribed medications and this is a point we’ve been trying to educate parents around for a very long time. Medications, especially if they are combinations of medication could be dangerous as well.”

Cold medication often contains expectorants which soften mucus, decongestants which affect sinuses and antipyretics along with painkillers. Taking one brand followed too quickly by another dose or another brand’s product could easily result in too much of any one or combination of these medications being in the body at one time, if the metabolism and immune system are already affected by the disease itself.

So, to sum up, in many cases it’s often better to do nothing apart from keep the patient warm and comfortable while the infection runs its course. And, while humidifiers might not play an active role in making anybody actually get better, they do play a large part in keeping the sufferer comfortable, which is key.

Image: chicagofabulousblog.com, FlickR

Well, if you happen to be a pop star that last suggestion isn’t actually that ridiculous. Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige and Mariah Carey are just four singers who are heavily rumoured to take a humidifier wherever they go – especially during a tour of before another important performance – for the benefit of their vocal chords, as well as additional reasons (healthier skin and/or allergy relief, for example).

Mary J Blige goes one step further and refuses to enter air conditioned environments on any days she is due to perform, for fear of drying out and damaging the muscles in her throat.

There is some theory to this diva-esque madness however.  Vocal chords work at their best when they are kept as moist as possible – ideally wet enough to vibrate up to 1700 times every second – and sleeping with a humidifier next to your bed can aid this by keeping the surrounding atmosphere moist. Any budding singer out there may wish to invest then!

It is ironic that Britney’s vigorous dance routines have caused regular speculations in the press that she regularly mimes whilst on tour but we have to award her bonus points for keeping up the pretence!

You are of course using electricity to both heat the element and power the fan in these models but they will certainly produce a blast of heat.   All incorporate safety cut outs to prevent overheating, should they be accidentally covered for example and they are great for instant “spot heat” needs.

If you’re looking for a heater in the nursery for example then a convector heater could be a better choice.  Strictly speaking, you could class these as radiators since they work on effectively the same principle as more conventional oil filled units. Elements inside an exterior casing are heated up and the air flows through the heater driven by natural convection.  Some are free-standing and are light and easy to move and most come with brackets for fixing to a wall.

The biggest advantage of a convector heater in a nursery or a child’s bedroom is the fact that they are completely silent.  There are no moving parts (although you can get some fan-assisted models) that generate any noise, so your child’s sleep will not be disturbed.   There are quite a number of options available in both forms of heater that are safe and simple to use.

Any type of heater will of course raise the temperature in a room and as a consequence the Relative Humidity (important for the process of your body giving up heat through evaporation of sweat on the skin) will drop because the warmer air can hold more moisture.  If you are using any source of instant or direct heat it’s probably wise to also use a humidifier alongside the heater to combat this reduction in Relative Humidity.

Low cost slimline units tend to use a HEPA filter to remove airborne particles such as dust, dirt, pollen, animal dander and mould spores. HEPA filters will remove 99.97% of micro particles up to 0.03 microns (the tip of a single hair is) 70-100 microns.  Some feature a built in ioniser that replaces negative ions destroyed by pollution and electronic equipment making the air feel even cleaner and fresher.

Most people who suffer from asthma or allergies notice a reduction in symptoms when they begin using an air purifier, although they still require the occasional use of an inhaler or whatever medication they’ve been prescribed.  Using an air purifier as well as a humidifier is a good idea during the winter time (with the proviso of making sure the units are regularly cleaned) as when it’s cold, you rarely let any outside air inside the house by opening windows or doors and this can create a haven for allergens.

Asthma and allergy sufferers ideally should not keep pets, but  if you must then remove all carpeting if possible and keep bedding, curtains, blinds and sofa surfaces dust free and hair free. Don’t allow the pet to spend time in the room where you sleep and always keep a humidifier in the home to help reduce the amount of pet dander and dust in the air.

After graduating from college Tim Ferriss founded (and later sold for a pot of cash) BrainQuicken, a web-based company selling nutritional supplements, and he is said to be best mates with several Silicon Valley CEOs.  Wired magazine called him the “greatest self-promoter in the world”, but probably best not to say that to his face as he is allegedly also very good at Chinese kickboxing!

Whatever you think of the claims made, one at least seems to be verifiable and actually works.  Many of our customers say that they are buying humidifiers to use full time their bedrooms at home as per the advice from Tim  Ferriss in the 4 Hour Body book.   Most report that their nose is certainly less blocked in the morning and their skin is not as dry.    Tim’s other advice on how to fall asleep faster includes eating  a large fat-and protein-dominated meal three  hours before bedtime,  using a  low light in the bedroom, taking  a cold bath an hour before bed  and sleeping in the  half-military crawl position.

However, what may really be doing the trick all on its own is using the humidifier to maintain a humidity of between 40-60% relative humidity.    Those who suffer from sinusitis or sinus inflammation certainly know the benefits of using a humidifier to alleviate symptoms.  Keeping air moist as well as irrigating the sinuses does do a great deal to offset sinus pain and irritation, so it’s bound to help in getting a decent night’s sleep too.  In fact, we’d hazard a guess that using the humidifier is probably all you really need to do.

However, we still remain intrigued by how you peel eggs without actually peeling eggs……

That may not be a result of the arctic conditions directly, but rather  a consequence of the fact that , when the heaters come on as we get home or reach the office, the humidity drops and our skin dries out  far too rapidly.  Lengthy exposure to direct heat after being outdoors in the cold can cause darkening and hardening of the skin that may lead to permanent damage.  Pleasant as the prospect might seem, you should try not to crank up the hot water temperature when you shower or bath after braving the elements because that too can dry your skin out even more.

Having humidifiers, like a humidifier from JS Humidifiers, is a good solution as it puts moisture back the air and that’s good for your skin.  During the winter months you should also use an oil based moisturizer which prevents water loss and protects the skin. Moisturizers that contain a mixture of around 80% oil and 20% water are best as they will form a protective layer on the skin. When you are taking a bath with warm water, add some bath oil to keep the skin moist and try to drink around eight glasses of water every day as this too will keep your skin hydrated.

Antarctica:  no surprises here really.  Antarctica is home to the South Pole and is a continent in its own right.  It is so cold  that it’s never been  inhabited by humans, although there is a temporary population as research centres and labs house scientists  that carry out experiments on this untapped and hostile land mass.

USA: this will surprise many as the image most have of the good ol’ U S of A is golden sands, sun-parched highways and scantily clad beauty queens. The reality is that the USA is huge country and sees massive variations in temperature, while Californians surf and sun worship, skiers and snowboarders enjoy the powder in resorts like Aspen

Greenland: another vast country, located in the north mid Atlantic, temperatures reach a maximum of seven degrees in the summer months, perhaps explaining the low population and lack of tourists.

Estonia: this Baltic outpost is situated in North-Eastern Europe and is subject to freezing rain at any time of the year which instantly lowers the temperature

Finland: home to the popular tourist destination and dwelling place of Santa Claus of course. It’s a unique holiday destination owing to the fact that it’s covered in snow and subject to biting and bitter winds for around a third of the year. Coincidentally, it’s also home to some of the best rally drivers in the world – must be those slippery conditions!

So there you have it.  We Brits really don’t have much to moan about.  The brief snow showers we had to contend with of late are simply routine for the residents of these chilly places.

The influenza season peaks during the winter months when air temperature and RH levels are naturally low.   Using humidifiers to create RH levels of at least 40% can go a long way to make things as uncomfortable as possible for influenza germs.  influenza survives far better and longer at low RH levels, but, studies seem to confirm that using a humidifier  to produce environments with an RH of approximately 40 -60% means that the influenza germs’   chances of survival  in the air and on hard surfaces is greatly reduced.  Of course, this only reduces influenza survival rates and is not a cure – that still evades medical science.

Using a humidifier is definitely something that can be done to alleviate symptoms at least.   Maintaining the right amount of moisture in your home can help to soothe sore throats and allow you to breathe better and sleep more comfortably.   Even when the whole family is healthy, proper humidity levels in the home can relieve other winter symptoms caused by cold, dry winter air, such as a dry nose, a dry throat, and dry eyes.

Aside from all those lofty motives, you could well save money too!  And it looks like getting a humidifier could contribute to all that!  There are some cost-effective approaches you can take to energy conservation in the home, especially as the weather gets cooler.  Some are obvious, some perhaps more surprising.  Here’s a list of some suggested measures:

• Turn on Your Humidifier: when it’s cold outside, don’t turn up the thermostat.  Turn on the humidifier for additional moisture that will increase the heat index inside your home. Low humidity makes the air feel colder than it actually is and the greater the moisture content of the air, the warmer it feels.   According to howstuff works.com, a relative humidity (RH) level of just 10% makes an air temperature of 95° F actually feel 5° colder. That’s really desert – dry and in practice you’d probably never get down to 10%  RH without a massive dehumidifier.  The air “feels” cool because the moisture evaporates from your skin more in a dry atmosphere.  Increase the humidity and less moisture evaporates because we sweat less. Boost the RH to 50% and the same air temperature feels almost 10° warmer than it really is for the same reasons.     A simple step like this uses considerably less energy than turning up the heating, whether that’s electric or gas-fired.  You can use a portable unit in frequently used areas like the bedroom or living room to get the same effect.
• Insulate the Loft: especially if your home was built before 1980. Heat can escape via the ceiling, through the roof and into the atmosphere.   12 inches plus ideally of insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways to help cut heating and cooling costs and make your home more comfortable. Also add insulation to crawl spaces, under floors, against basement walls and the wall adjoining an attached garage if you have one.
• Replace single pane windows: double or triple-glazed windows, especially those with a coating on the glass that reflects heat back into the room, will noticeably affect your heating costs and can help reduce heat loss through the window by as much as 50%.  Better fitting doors will help reduce draughts and properly fitted draught excluder strips around door frames will cut down on heat loss too.
• Seal all external gaps: by using caulk, sealants and weather-stripping to plug cracks or fissures inside and out, around windows, doors and where systems protrude through the skin of the house.

A humidifier is an accessory that may not be quite so high on the list of essentials for the nursery, but it could be one of the best things you can buy to assure a healthy and happy baby as well as hopefully peaceful nights for all concerned!

Dry air often causes babies to develop breathing problems, swollen sinuses, and respiratory infections. Humidifiers in the nursery will help prevent those symptoms and can also protect your baby from allergies and drying of the skin, both of which are common in winter.

So what is the best humidifier to get for the baby’s room?  Some paediatricians prefer cool mist humidifiers as they do not have a heating element which could accidentally hurt an inquisitive and active toddler, but generally the only type of humidifier recommended for a nursery is a steam humidifier.

Other mist types may put dust into the air which is carried in the water.  In addition, if the unit is not maintained properly there’s a risk of putting stagnant water into the air and spreading any bacteria or germs it might contain.  A steam system ensures that the moisture released is totally hygienic.

When it comes to humidity levels, anywhere between 40% – 60% is recommended for a house or an office. A humidity of 40% is also the electrostatic threshold.  Anything below  40% and there’s not enough humidity in the air to dissipate electric charge, so static can build up.

For the nursery, you should aim for a relative humidity (RH)  level of between 50%-60%.  You should also look for humidifiers that are not too noisy when they operate as this could disturb the baby’s sleep.

Probably the best all round solution we’d suggest for the nursery would be the Turmix AX200 Steam Humidifier.  It’s a simple but reliable design and is completely silent in operation.  You just pour water into the top of the unit (you can use distilled or even bottled water rather than tap water) and plug it in. The solid element gently warms the water to release steam and raise the humidity in the room and if the tank becomes empty, the unit automatically turns itself off. There’s also a safety overheat feature which will turn the Turmix AX200 off should the unit overheat for any reason. The water tank will hold up to 3.8 litres of water and a special receptacle in the top allows decongestants to be gently heated and evaporated into the atmosphere as well.

The device is called the Cirrus 3, and while it does not appear to be an air purifier or an air filter,  it is said to eradicate up to 99.9999% of pathogenic airborne and surface bacteria and viruses.  It does this by replicating what its inventor calls “Open Air Factor” which is composed of naturally occurring ozone catalysed by UV light and combined with aromatic hydrocarbons given off by plant life.  This creates substances called hydroxyl radicals and it’s these apparently that are so lethal to pathogens.  The Cirrus 3 is in effect a ‘Fresh Air Machine’ combining three existing decontamination technologies to create an invisible defence cloud that kills germs before they can spread from person to person.

If it works as advertised, the technology could be readily adapted for a range of applications such as care homes, surgeries, and cruise ships – anywhere where there’s a large number of people and a risk of bacterial or viral transmission through the air of by surface contact.  Cirrus 3 devices could also be incorporated into HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems or integrated in next generation air purifiers and humidifiers.

In the meanwhile, recent studies  have suggested that maintaining an indoor Relative Humidity (RH) level between 40-60% can not only relieve cold and flu symptoms, it can actually help kill flu viruses on surfaces and in the air if used with other measures, like the Cirrus 3 maybe. Whether or not you recreate natural fresh air, maintaining the right amount of moisture in your home can help to soothe sore throats and allow you to breathe better and sleep more comfortably.

There’s even some research that suggests plants can absorb heavy metal toxins like formaldehyde and benzene.  So plants are very pretty and can be effective in improving air quality, not least because they generate oxygen.  There are some disadvantages though, even if you can keep them alive for more than a few days.  Certain compounds in some indoor plants can cause allergic reactions in animals and humans and people who suffer from hay fever may not thank you for a potted gift.  And even before you can grow your indoor plants, especially if entirely by hydroponics, you need to establish a relative humidity level of between 50 – 70% so that the plants are hydrated properly and transport vital nutrients effectively.

The belt and braces approach of using plants and a humidifier or air purifier does have some benefits. A humidifier is also particularly useful for children with colds and snuffles as helps to help ease congestion.  Adding moisture to your room can make a big difference in how you look and feel, especially if you have dry nasal and sinus passages and are uncomfortable during the arid winter months.

There is of course one indoor horticultural practice that seems to rely very heavily on air purifiers.  We are by no means endorsing it or suggesting you try this yourselves, but the cultivation of marijuana is one where the correct air purity and humidity is vital. 50 marijuana plants will yield about five pounds of harvested marijuana using cultivation equipment such as growing lights and air purifiers.  You’re far better off sticking to the mechanical alternatives!

If you’re in a band or an orchestra and have musical instruments in the house, you’ll be aware of how quickly they can “spontaneously” go out of tune.   That’s especially the case if you live or perform in a very dry or arid environment.   There are humidifiers specially made for instrument cases and some humidifiers may actually attach to or fit in the instrument, like a humidifier that fits in the soundhole of a guitar or in the f-hole of a violin.   If you live in consistently moist or damp environments, or perform in halls that have that familiar “musty” odour, you may want to consider some way to dehumidify the instrument.  That’s usually achieved by adding a desiccant, such as silica-gel or dry clay granules inside the instrument case (never inside the instrument itself).

If you and your instrument spend a lot of time in one particular location, like a practice room or a recording studio for example, then it’s probably worth looking at systems that will humidify or dehumidify the entire environment in which you perform.  That’s particularly helpful if, as is often the case, the studios, rehearsal rooms or live venues are in basements or barely maintained village halls.  If you want to find out if you need a humidifier, buy a thermohygrometer.  The ideal humidity for most normal situations and to maintain your instrument in perfect tune is between 40-60% relative humidity. If the thermohygrometer reads below this you probably need a humidifier. If it reads above this you may need a dehumidifier.  Dry air in these places can affect more than just your instrument.   Breathing in dry air can lead to fatigue, tiredness and reduced concentration levels as well as an increased susceptibility to colds and respiratory tract complaints.

Even before you get your hands on the instrument, there are equally sound reasons to control the humidity in the music store too.  Guitar woods are no longer plentiful and inexpensive and customers are increasingly asking where the wood came from and what is being done to conserve it.  Most factories control their climate during manufacture and most instrument owners will keep their guitars or whatever protected in cases. It’s the retail music store that’s potentially the worst environment that a guitar or other instrument will ever experience at a time when you want them in first rate condition in order to sell them!  Controlled humidity throughout the shop will benefit all guitars for example, not just acoustics.  Most guitar manufacturers are also becoming very strict about returns they will take responsibility for, and are insisting on the use of humidifiers or dehumidifiers as appropriate in their retail, franchised or independent outlets.

Top 10 Prominent Possible Air Purifier Puffers

1. WINSTON CHURCHILL:  the man for whom the imposing Churchill cigar size was named smoked around 10 a day.  He even had a special oxygen mask made that allowed him to smoke in a non-pressurised aircraft cabin.
2. GROUCHO MARX: his third wife, Eden, objected to his “stinky old cigar” and ordered him to put it out or get a new wife.  Guess what he did?
3. BILL CLINTON: the 42nd president has been known to chew cigars on the golf course and smoke them on overseas trips, but is notorious for a far more intimate employment of the rolled tobacco leaf.
4. DEMI MOORE: partial to small cigars, such as the Montecristo Joyita, but also enjoys a Cohiba No. 2 or a Montecristo No. 2. We suggest a PL3000 HEPA Air Purifier with Remote Control that will neutralise airborne particles and odours.
5. SIGMUND FREUD: the father of psychoanalysis saw phallic symbols everywhere, but even he conceded that “sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.” The HM685 Five Stage Plasma Air Purifier is a handy tower shape that should resemble a phallus enough for any Freudian.
6. WHOOPI GOLDBERG: Oscar nominated, stand-up comic and talk show host who prefers small cigars, but has been known to suck on a big Cohiba now and then.
7. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER:  the “govenator” was introduced to the Cuban tubes by Sargent Shriver, the father of his wife Maria, shortly after Schwarzenegger and Maria met in 1977.  The AP281 HEPA Air Purifier & Ioniser should be ideal.  It’s simple and easy to use.
8. MICHAEL DOUGLAS: a proclivity for playing flawed heroes and antiheroes as well as Welsh women (43) almost two-thirds his age (66) and smoking Montecristo No. 2′s on the golf course. The Air-O-Swiss Combi – Air Purifier & Humidifier will clear the room and keep the wrinkles at bay.
9. DITA VON TEESE: born Heather Renée Sweet, Von Teese began her career in a local strip club when she was 18.  She’s famed for her vintage-inspired outfits that reflect 1940s cinema and classic retro style as well as the odd cigar.  The P80 Airfree Air Purifier is not only the world’s most endorsed air purifier, it’s also got that nice rounded Art Deco Retro shape about it.
10. SIR JAMES WILSON VINCENT SAVILE, OBE, KCSG: Jimmy Savile to the rest of us.   Ex-semi-pro wrestler, host of Jim’ll Fix it, Top of the Pops and work for charity mixed with his trademark cigars – “ow’s about that then?”

Now, recent studies and reviews of previous work  suggest that maintaining an indoor  Relative Humidity (RH) level between 40-60% can not only relieve cold and flu symptoms, it can actually help kill flu viruses on surfaces and in the air if used with other measures.

Research that studied the correlation between why the influenza season peaks in the winter months when air temperature and RH levels are so low concluded that the survival of influenza germs can be reduced significantly by using humidifiers to create RH levels of at least 40%.  Using mechanically atomised influenza virus samples released as an aerosol to infect chicken eggs or egg membranes, studies consistently show that influenza survives far better at low RH levels.    Although not as extensively studied as the effects of RH on aerosol survival, studies on the effects of RH on influenza survival on hard surfaces also showed a similar correlation.  The data across several studies is remarkably consistent.  Influenza germ survival is greatly reduced in environments with an RH of approximately 40 -60%.

Of course, this only reduces influenza germ survival rates and there is still no cure for the common cold. There are things you can do to alleviate any symptoms and using a humidifier is definitely one of them. Maintaining the right amount of moisture in your home can help to soothe sore throats and allow you to breathe better and sleep more comfortably.   Even when the whole family is healthy, proper humidity levels in the home can relieve other winter symptoms caused by cold, dry winter air, such as a dry nose, a dry throat, and dry eyes.

There’s no doubt that when the cold winds start whipping in the skin suffers.  You skin can feel very dry with itching on the hands and legs.  There may even be some cracking involved if the dryness gets too severe. Surprisingly that may not be a result of the arctic conditions directly, but rather  a consequence of the fact that , when the heaters come on as we get home or reach the office, the humidity drops and our skin dries out.

Having humidifiers is a good solution as it puts moisture back the air and that’s good for your skin. However, even that won’t help if you get too close to heaters for long periods of time.  Lengthy exposure to direct heat after being outdoors in the cold can cause darkening and hardening of the skin that can lead to permanent damage.  Enjoyable as it may seem after braving the blizzards, you should try not to crank up the hot water temperature when you shower or bath either because that can dry your skin out even more.

Years of planning, state-of-the-art snow making equipment, a fleet of snow grooming machines, dedicated mountain operations staff, the best “ice meisters”  and snow makers in the business, and advanced weather tracking technology  should ensure an excellent games.  Large amounts of natural snow have been mixed with artificial snow to make a firm base that is perfect for racing. Both competition courses at Whistler Creekside and at Whistler Olympic Park look to be in great shape.

Thanks to the donation of the Air-O-Swiss equipment, the Swiss team will probably be in equally great shape.  The 7146 Ultrasonic Travel Humidifier is lightweight and compact enough to fit into the athletes’ hand luggage.  All they need to do is add a bottle of clean, still water to enjoy the benefits of humidified air in a dry hotel room or ski chalet.   Low energy ultrasonic vibrations generate a micro-fine mist, which is blown into the room where it quickly evaporates. The variable mist output control allows you to select the amount of mist produced.  Even if it’s freezing outside with lots of snow, using this system none of the Swiss team will experience dry air symptoms like a stuffy nose, mouth drying out and dry skin.

Her supposed ability (dubbed Street Light Interference Syndrome – or SLI) has earned her international fame.  In Japan, she has been likened to heroines from cult Manga comics and she has been compared to characters from the BBC2 show “Heroes”.  For a woman who believes she interferes with electrical equipment, Debbie has chosen a risky job as a pathology support officer at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, although to date none of the hospital equipment seems to have been affected.
So is SLI a genuine paranormal phenomenon or merely coincidence?

In true Derren Brown expose fashion, we present a possible and plausible explanation. Apart from temperature and air purity, the third important factor in the maintenance of an ideal room climate is the moisture content of the air.  With central heating and double glazing, you can experience excessively dry air indoors. The consequences of dry air are severe.  It can lead to discomfort, tiredness, and sickness as well as greater susceptibility to colds and increased levels of dust created by the thermal currents from radiators.

However, one other consequence of very dry air is increased levels of static electricity. Large data centres for example have banks of sensitive electronic equipment producing huge quantities of heat and need humidifiers to stabilize the fluctuation of relative humidity (RH). Low humidity can lead to excess static electricity and electrostatic discharge (ESD) that can fatally damage components. Even without ESD, fluctuations in humidity can cause circuit boards to expand and contract, damaging the circuitry.  What’s true in an industrial application can also be true in the home.

Higher humidity reduces static problems, so what Debbie needs is a decent humidifier to stop her contact ESD.  It’s likely that her hospital workplace already has a humidity controlled environment, which could be why she doesn’t fritz the medical gear.    On the other hand of course, Debbie could be a genuine Magneto in the making, in which case we would recommend a dehumidifier if she ever wants to boost her powers!

Extravagance is nothing new for the starlet.  Back home at the Carey residence, Mariah gets steamy in the bedroom.  Nothing to do with her sex life we hasten to add.  It’s the 20 humidifiers she maintains around her bed ostensibly to preserve her vocal cords.  She insists on maintaining rainforest levels of humidity and effectively sleeps in a steam room. The bed is all towelling cloth, the ceiling is sloped so the water can’t fall on her head, and her boudoir TV is behind glass.

Back at Westfield, good old Health and Safety went along with the doves bit (they were going to be released into the sky) but the kittens were another matter entirely because “no pets are allowed in Westfield”.  Carey had already issued an extravagant list of demands including butterfly-shaped confetti, a pink (not a red) carpet, 80 security guards, a Rolls Royce to drive her through the shopping centre and a wand to ‘wave’ (not switch) on the mall’s Christmas lights. Incredibly, all of these demands were met!

Her reputation for being one of the world’s most demanding pop divas is legend.  Her “riders” have included requests for a £1,000 throne and a £50,000 antique chair (flown from New York to London) to sit at while she signed autographs in Selfridges in 2008. She’s not alone though.  Several pop stars have outlandish “rider” demands.  Guns N’ Roses insist on an assortment of adult magazines (i.e. Penthouse, Playboy, etc.) while Cher requires an entire separate dressing room just for her wigs.   The Rolling Stones always insisted on having two smartly dressed, well groomed hostesses, but it’s Iggy Pop who must take the biscuit with his 18 pages of perplexing, meticulously detailed requests, such as no toy robots, television evangelists, plastic seahorses, bailiwicks, crepuscules (sic) or kooks, that has left venues around the world scrabbling for the dictionary and the nearest psychoanalyst.

To our knowledge though, none of the above (aside from Mariah)  insist on humidifiers or dehumidifiers, even though they clearly do have some benefits for the vocal chords and medical experts recommend a relative air humidity of between 40% and 60% to ensure a room is ideally humidified. Even if you’re not a vocalist, getting a humidifier might be a good idea as low moisture content in room air will cause musical instruments to go out of tune, but then there are several acts  (Status Quo maybe?)  who probably wouldn’t notice that anyway!

During the winter months when we turn on central heating and close the double-glazing, our sealed homes can dry out to less than 25% relative humidity. This is as dry as the Sahara Dessert. The warm inside air tries to regain its moisture balance and sucks water from any available source, including our skin, hair, eyes, nose and throat.

This results in dry, flaky skin, especially around our face and hands, hair becoming more brittle and susceptible to split ends, and our eyes becoming itchy, especially for contacts lens wearers.

Very worrying effects of a dry inside atmosphere are our nose and throat drying out, as this leaves us more susceptible to colds and viruses. The mucous membranes in our nose and throat are natural defences against airborne germs. Dry them out and we are left vulnerable.

Breathing in dry air makes the uptake of oxygen and its subsequent transfer to the blood system more difficult. Fatigue, tiredness and reduced concentration levels are symptoms of a reduced oxygen supply.

Opening the windows in winter will not humidify a room as the cold outside air cannot hold a lot of moisture and when it warms up inside it dries even further.

The answer is to use a humidifier that will put the water back into the atmosphere leaving skin, hair, eyes, nose and throat naturally hydrated.

A well maintained indoor humidity level helps suppress dust as it binds it and reduces its ability to become airborne. Dry room air causes dust to rise. This is made worse by the thermal currents created by radiators.

Apple has recently posted a support document on their website encouraging people to use portable humidifiers to avoid the risk of receiving static charges when using an iPod with headphones.

They say, “It’s possible to receive a small and quick electrical (static) shock from your earbuds while listening to iPod or iPhone.” And go on to recommend, “raising the moisture level in the air of the local environment by using a portable humidifier” as “Very low humidity (dry) environments are conducive for static buildup.”

Other things they say you can do to avoid a shocking experience whilst iPodding indoors include using an anti-static spray on the air and using hand lotion (on our hands or our ears?) or wearing natural fibres instead of synthetic. When you go out and about they recommend keeping your device in a bag or case and avoiding rubbing it on materials by not taking it out of your pockets frequently.

It’s lovely to know that the nice people at Apple are thinking of us.

If none of the fixes above work, you could try some of this fancy anti-static footwear . Not sure if the straps will be long enough to stretch to your iPod though.

A Mistifier Plus humidifier was used to spray one part Hendrick’s Gin to three parts tonic water into a room decorated like the inside of a cocktail with giant limes, massive straws and a soundtrack by sound artist Douglas Murphy. A £5 ticket allowed entrance for around an hour into the intoxicating atmosphere where plastic-suited revellers inhaled about the equivalent of a strong drink.

The event took place for six days between 16th to 25th April and was a total sell-out.

The organisers took expert advice on safe levels of alcohol, as well as the potential for the mixture to combust, before putting on the event.

Sam Bompass, Director at Bompass & Parr, commented, “We are very grateful to JS Humidifiers for all their assistance in helping us turn the initial concept of an alcoholic cloud into a reality. The humidifier has performed exceptionally throughout, which given its unusual application, is a credit to its engineering design.”

It’s compact so fits in your luggage, comes with a full range of plug adaptors, looks good and comes with a carrying bag to keep all the bits together. 

This unit’s compact because you supply your own water reservoir in the form of a mineral water bottle – the humidifier’s supplied with an adaptor to fit standard bottles.

And it really makes a difference. It’s been freezing outside all week with lots of snow but, with the humidifier running in my room, I’m getting none of the dry air symptoms. 

I wish I’d got a bigger bottle though, as I have to refill it three or four times a day.  This humidifier is definitely coming with me when I travel – lots of hotels are dry even when they’re not in the Alps.

Click the play icon and then wait until after the coloured test card type image at the beginning to see a video on how the Boneco 2055D works.

On a cold, damp day the outside temperature might be 5°C and 80% relative humidity (RH) but as this outside air infiltrates a building it warms and the relative humidity drops.  So, at a typical inside temperature of 20°C the relative humidity of the same air will have dropped to just 30%RH.  This is unpleasantly and unproductively dry.  On colder days, the situation inside will be worse.  When conditions outside are 0°C/80%RH, it will be just 19%RH inside; even when it’s damp outside, it can be drier than the Sahara inside. 

Electrostatic shocks
Perhaps the most obvious dry air effect is electrostatic shocks.  The threshold for the build of electrostatic is 40%RH.  Below this level, the problem rapidly becomes a nuisance. Above this level, the problem is effectively eliminated although, where under floor heating and certain types of carpet are employed, a higher RH of 55% might be required to eradicate the problem.  Correct humidity levels prevent the discomfort of electrostatic shocks.

Visual discomfort
In dry air, the eyes lose moisture to the surroundings, causing drying the surface of the cornea.  A Danish study indicated that 25% of office workers experienced eye irritation several times each week due to dry air.  Contact lens wearers express discomfort that can increase by a factor of five as the humidity drops from 45% to 20%.  Below 30%RH, dust and dirt deposits on lenses increase causing greater irritation.  Accordingly, the Contact Lens Association recommends a minimum ambient RH of 40%. 

Dry mouth, throat and nose
The nose and throat act as a powerful humidifier for inhaled air and mucous helps protect against infection by trapping microbes and dust.  However, the throat starts to dry in conditions below 55%RH at 20°C and 80% of people report nasal stuffiness, dry mouth and throat after as little as 2 hours exposure at 10%RH/24°C after just 2 hours.  Persistently low RH increases susceptibility to infection as the mucosa dry out.  Appropriate humidity levels prevent these problems.

Perception of odours
Relative humidity also affects perception of smell.  Cigarette odour, described as acceptable at 50%RH, is described as objectionable at 30%RH.  So, workplace smells are made more tolerable by a correct level of RH.

Skin discomfort
If the air is too dry the skin, scalp and hair dry and become brittle.  When skin is too dry it can become rough and, in very dry conditions, can crack, exacerbating skin ailments such as eczema and psoriasis.

Perception of warmth
People’s perception of warmth varies with relative humidity.  It is possible to reduce ambient temperature to provide a sensation of warmth when the relative humidity is at a comfortable level, so reducing heating costs.  However, a limit is reached when the RH becomes higher than 70%, when people start to describe conditions as muggy or sultry. 

Stress and absenteeism
In a survey carried out on behalf of Volvic mineral water, most employees rated dry workplaces (35%RH or less) as high stress environments but workplaces with a relative humidity between 40-60% as low stress environments.   Research has shown that absenteeism of 4% at 40%RH rises to 5% at 20%RH.

Summary
The effects of dry air on people vary with temperature and individual sensitivity but, at temperatures between 20-23°C, which are typical of the modern workplace, a comfortable and healthy level of relative humidity is found at around 50%RH.  Little tangible effect is felt, except by people with sensitive eyes, until the relative humidity drops below 40%RH, at which level electrostatic shocks are generated.  Below this level an uncomfortable and unhealthy environment is created.  According to temperature, conditions above 60-70%RH become uncomfortably humid.  An appropriate range of relative humidity for people at work is therefore 40-60%RH.