Lungs......dry vs humid environment question

[tommym]

I have been prone to pneumonia (sometimes on a yearly basis) for as long as I can remember, and not so sure moving to a dryer more arid environment like the southwest will be of any benefit to me. Has anyone here made that kind of a move to deal with long-term health/lung issues?

TIA,

Tommy

 

[guitarlover]

Idon't know this answer will be of any use : I live in Europe Belgium. I,´ve sometimes heared that people move to the south eg. Spain (warmer climate, air is dry) for their lung problems (mostly asthma).

 

[SFIV1967]

I,´ve sometimes heared that people move to the south eg. Spain (warmer climate, air is dry) for their lung problems (mostly asthma).

Actually not so much for the dry air! Almost the opposite! Denia in Spain is one of those towns where many also from German move to and here is what they say:

"Dénia, one of the localities that make up this coast and that has a very healthy climate conditions for diseases of the heart, circulation, lungs, rheumatism, arthritis and asthmatic discomfort. The Montgó mountain, provides its magnesium minerals to the climate of Dénia and the sea breeze permeates our lungs acting as a natural spray, very rich in iodine, and its moisture degree favours the expulsion of mucus, in addition to help us to relax and to disconnect, which reduces stress and worries. "

I guess that is a bit like a climate in Southern California on the coastline from Santa Barbara down to San Diego.

Ralf

 

[JohnW63]

I think it depends on the cause of your recurring pneumonia. It it's due to allergies, you may find a different environment may not have the allergen you get triggered by.

 

[davismanLV]

Humid air makes it harder to breathe and increases body temp and the body's ability to cool from sweating. Bacteria and viruses seem to like a more humid environment. So it follows that a dry environment can make it easier to breathe and less hospitable to bacteria and viruses. It's currently 101 degrees with an RH of 12% which is high for us, but we've got some cloud cover right now. Might be good for your lungs. The guitars are shut into an atrium with a gigantic humidifier running 24/7 to keep it at 40% RH. Good for lungs, bad for acoustic guitars.

 

[Guildedagain]

NE1 here Neti pot?

 

[fronobulax]

The dry and hot climate of Arizona is recommended for people who suffer from respiratory illnesses and diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis and pneumonia according to the never wrong internet and friends and acquaintances who have moved there.

 

[GAD]

NE1 here Neti pot?

Disgusting devices…

…that work.

 

[fronobulax]

Disgusting devices…

…that work.

Is it safe to rinse your sinuses with a neti pot?

The FDA is warning consumers that improper use of nasal rinses can lead to potentially deadly infections

www.cbsnews.com

In a statement, the FDA said that when used and cleaned properly, neti pots are usually safe and effective. The first rule of safety is to only rinse with distilled, sterile or previously boiled water.

So if I use a neti pot with distilled water am I at risk of leaching minerals from my nose?

;-)

 

[Guildedagain]

FDA can bite my rear, their constant failures are legendary.

You're putting saline in the Neti, it's pretty antiseptic.

We've never done anything but a simple rinse when done. Wife swears by it, uses it a lot. Neither one of us has been sick in eons. No health insurance and I could give a rip. Not really into doctors or western medicine. Like Carlin said "They only know how to do two things, give you a pill or remove part of your anatomy".

 

[Longnose Gar]

Humidifier manufacturers advertise that their devices help reduce respiratory infections in dry rooms. Not that I agree or disagree. But the dry winters in Colorado wreak havoc on my sinuses and throat. I run a humidifier all night and spray saline up my nose all day, otherwise my nose is a crusted dry mess from micro nosebleeds. When I go to sea level, everything in my body works better. And I can almost sing.

 

[GAD]

Is it safe to rinse your sinuses with a neti pot?

The FDA is warning consumers that improper use of nasal rinses can lead to potentially deadly infections

www.cbsnews.com

So if I use a neti pot with distilled water am I at risk of leaching minerals from my nose?

;-)

As long as it leaches them from the brain-eating amoebas I’m good.

 

[tommym]

Humidifier manufacturers advertise that their devices help reduce respiratory infections in dry rooms. Not that I agree or disagree. But the dry winters in Colorado wreak havoc on my sinuses and throat. I run a humidifier all night and spray saline up my nose all day, otherwise my nose is a crusted dry mess from micro nosebleeds. When I go to sea level, everything in my body works better. And I can almost sing.

How long have you lived in Colorado?

Tommy

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Neti pots are so 60's!

Here's what I use:

Much less prone to waterboarding yourself!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

We're all different. My wife and I both get wretched sore throats in the winter if we don't run humidifiers, one for each floor. We can feel it. If the humidity drops below 40%, we're goners. So we try to keep it at around 50%. (It's also good for my instruments. They don't like it below 40% either.)

But I've heard of people moving to the southwest for their lungs or sinuses. Go figure.

 

[silverfox103]

Charlie, just out of curiosity, do you heat with wood or pellets?

Tom from NH

 

[Boneman]

Hard to say, but I am in a dry climate now and I think moving to the Southwest from the Northeast might’ve exacerbated some skin issues, but my breathing or lung power really hasn’t changed. I will say the home environment can play a big part in respiratory issues, things you wouldn’t necessarily even be aware of, hidden things like mold or other spores. Moving to another state may not fix the issue, and doctors are useless, like guilded says they will prescribe drugs or cut your lung out.

 

[JohnW63]

I'm rather confident they know a few more things than George gave them credit for.

 

[Longnose Gar]

How long have you lived in Colorado?

Tommy

Most of my life, including the last 15 years.

 

[tommym]

Most of my life, including the last 15 years.

Thanks for that additional information.

Tommy