June 26, 2018

7 Potential Health Risks of a Humid Environment

You may have heard the word ‘Humidity’ for the first time during your early school days. It was such a time when you learned, ‘The higher you go, the cooler it becomes.’ The opposite of this environmental slogan is ‘The lower you go, the hotter it becomes!’ Coastal regions are mostly associated with humid temperature because of the effects of the sea.

A mention of coast region helps you understand what humid environment feels. Factors like flooding and house leakages can also cause wet conditions in our homes during rainy seasons. Humidity makes the temperature feel hot as our sweat evaporates slower hence causing our bodies to overheat. This situation is uncomfortable and also poses potential dangers to our health.

Is There a Recommended Level of Humidity?

Relative humidity is the measurement of the moisture in the air. It is the amount of moisture in the atmosphere and is expressed in percentages. The relative humidity level in your house should be in the range of 35%-50%. A high humidity level not only makes you feel hot (refer to the heat index chart) but also creates an environment for diseases. High humidity gives Allergies, various bacteria, and viruses leeway to attack.

7 Health Risks Associated with High Humid Environment

Here are the seven potential health risks of overexposure to humidity (hyperthermia)：

1. Pathogenic and airborne diseases

These are diseases caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Such diseases include common cold and asthma. Dust mites (microscopic creatures) also trigger asthma. All these disease-causing organisms thrive in highly hot and humid environments.

2. Dehydration

Dehydration is a severe loss of water from your body. Humidity can cause loss of water in the body leaving your body dehydrated.  Even low level of dehydration is dangerous--can cause constipation, headaches, and fatigue. High level of dehydration is fatal. 75% of the human body composition being water, loss of it interferes with the functionality of the body cells.

3. Fainting

If you are not used to the hot environment, exposure to it can cause a quick drop in your blood pressure that may lead to fainting.

4. Heat stroke

Heat stroke is a condition whereby the body systems fail to regulate body temperature leading to overheating of the body.   The body can overheat to over 105 degrees F, and this can lead to the shutting down of the brain functions, oops! You can quickly die unless immediate medical attention is sought. You had better prevent this occurrence!

5. Heat exhaustion  

This sinister is a great danger and strikes without warning. When the temperature is boiling, your body will experience heat stress and begin to lose its ability to cool down. This condition causes your body to shut down to protect itself. It is a scenario similar to heat stroke.

6. Heat rash

For those whose skin appearance matters most, take precaution here. Heat rash is a skin condition caused by excess sweating.  You develop reddish pimples mainly on the neck, elbow creases or even other parts of the body.

7. Heat cramps

Heat cramps can result from heat exhaustion. Your body naturally sweats when overexposed to heat. Sweating depletes body’s moisture and salt. Excessive sweating can lead to low level of salt in the body, and this causes heat cramps.

You Need to Fix the High Humidity

Prevention is better than cure!’ This slogan being common in the health industry is also a key approach to avoiding health problems. You can prevent humidity health risks by keeping indoor air at a healthy humidity level. Can you regulate humidity inside your house? You can get rid of excess moisture from the air in your home by use of a dehumidifier. It is built specifically for excess moisture removal.

 You will regulate not only humidity level inside your house but also the temperature levels. The drier the air, the easier it becomes to cool the air. Your health matters most, so great should be your effort to prevent adverse effects of humidity.