Recognizing and Addressing the Symptoms of Humidity
How many physical signs of high humidity can you name? Here's a hint, there's a few more than 'sweating through your shirt.'
The ability to identify high indoor humidity is crucial to your health, as failing to address it can lead to severe health risks. Below you'll learn about high humidity and how monitoring IAQ parameters is essential to maintain healthy indoor air quality.
What Is High Humidity?
Humidity is the concentration of water vapor in the air and it can be measured in two ways, relative and absolute humidity.
Absolute humidity measures the number of grams of water in a cubic meter of air. Relative humidity, on the other hand, is expressed as a percentage that calculates the ratio of water in the air based on temperature. The higher the temperature, the more water vapor it can hold. Thus, relative humidity is a more accurate measurement because it adjusts for potential moisture content.
When you see a humidity measurement, it's almost always a relative measurement. High humidity is when concentration of water vapor exceeds a given percentage. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency defines high humidity as above 60%, with normal humidity falling between 30-50%.
Can Humidity Make You Sick?
There are some very obvious physical symptoms of high humidity, like pit stains or a drenched brow.
However, the effects of high humidity on the body get much more severe than excess sweat and discomfort. High humidity sickness that can lead to serious health complications.
4 Effects of High Humidity on the Body
The human body is a miraculous mechanism that constantly reacts to its surroundings. Thankfully, when you body encounters high humidity, it triggers symptoms to let you know something's wrong.
Respiratory Problems
High humidity can breed all sorts of mold spores and indoor pollens and allergens. For example, dust mites thrive in high humidity. People with asthma often experience extreme flare ups because, along with heightened pollutants that may trigger bronchoconstriction, high humidity also reduces the amount of oxygen in the air.
However, asthma or no asthma, high humidity can lead to any of these lung issues:
Trouble breathing
Inflamed airways
Coughing
Wheezing
Sneezing
Skin Irritations
Ever had a case of heat rash? If not, don't make plans to get it.
Heat rash occurs when excessive moisture gets trapped under the skin, which causes skin irritation , inflammation, rashes, bumps or blisters. The result is an itching, prickling, or stinging sensation.
Dry skin is another common symptom of high humidity. The body works exceedingly hard under humid conditions to cool itself off. Given this, skin can dry out easier and become highly irritable.
Additionally, moisture promotes growth of fungus and bacteria. So if you have a case of athletes foot, under high humidity it's more likely to get worse and become harder to treat.
Dehydration
Sweat is nothing more than moisture leaving the body, and humidity causes the bodies natural cooling system to kick in.
In chronically humid conditions cooling systems are in constant overdrive, releasing too much moisture and leading to dehydration.
Symptoms of dehydration include:
Nausea
Cramps
Dizziness, lightheadedness
Fatigue
Dry mouth, lips, and throat.
In the most severe cases, this can cause people to faint, resulting in hospitalization.
Impact on Sleep Quality
Does the air ever feel heavy when you're trying to sleep to the point it keeps you awake? That's likely humidity.
Humidity can wreck a good nights sleep, because it dries the body out and causes major discomfort. It also effects the quality of sleep, as humidity can prevent you from entering deep REM cycles. Failing to sleep properly can lead to a weakened immune system and longer time to recover from injuries.
Can Attune alert you to mold growth? Yes!
Other Signs of High Humidity Levels
Identifying high humidity in indoor environments isn't just an understanding of what it does to the human body. You can spot excessive moisture in what it does to a building too.
For example, if you're experiencing rapid mold growth, noticeable window condensation, or peeling and bubbling paint, these are all signs of high humidity.
Unmanaged high humidity can even result in major damages to a building's structure and assets. In the worst cases, humidity can decay a foundation, resulting in long term evacuation.
Strategies to Manage High Humidity
To prevent high humidity, first, you must detect it.
To begin your journey to reduce office humidity, for example, you should place some form of monitoring device that accurately tracks relative humidity levels.
It's recommended to begin with monitoring areas notorious for high humidity, such as bathrooms, kitchens, or poorly ventilated sections.
From there, you can identify the causes of high humidity, and take necessary steps to prevent it. These measures can include:
Implement exhaust fans in high moisture areas
Improve ventilation by leaving windows open increase airflow (if the windows don't open, use ceiling, tower, or box fans)
Install dehumidifiers and space them throughout the building evenly
Install as much hard wood flooring as possible, as carpet retains moisture
Keep HVAC filters clean and free of blockage
Prevent moisture from entering the air by insulating or fixing any leaking pipes or faucets
Avoid High Humidity Sickness With Attune's Solutions
Any home, apartment, or office building should have a thorough network of IAQ sensors for tracking humidity levels. With proper monitoring, you can catch excess moisture before it becomes a threat to your health or assets.
While monitoring systems require upfront investment, the right one can save you thousands of dollars over the long term by preventing issues like mold outbreaks and water damage.
Attune's IAQ platform ranks among the best full-service solutions for gaining the most accurate real-time data on indoor humidity.
As soon as you Attune sensors are active they connect to a digital software platform to track and compile reports and issue real time alerts.
Sound good but want to see it in action before spending a dime? Don't sweat it! Schedule a free demo today. Our expert team is happy to show you exactly how we can help you secure the healthiest and most comfortable indoor space possible.
