Doctors warn of dangers from indoor humidity

AccuWeather

Accuweather's Leslie Hudson explains how to spot the risks of indoor humidity and what you can do to stay safe.

Transcript

00:00It may be September, but make no mistake, summer is still growing strong across many parts of the country.

00:07When humidity spikes outside, it often follows us indoors.

00:12Ooh, and doctors say too much moisture in your home's air can do more than make you sweat.

00:17Leslie, you caught my attention.

00:19How about that?

00:20Acura, there's Leslie Hudson is live in New Orlando, Florida with the health risks.

00:23Oh gosh, and what else we need to watch out for?

00:26If it's not one thing, it's another, Ari.

00:31We're always tracking something, right?

00:33And yeah, it's really a hidden danger.

00:36A lot of people don't think about high humidity inside your home, but it really can be a problem.

00:42And those warm months and high humidity go hand in hand.

00:44And you can see over my shoulder here, this is my smart thermostat.

00:48It's a little lower now because I have lights on, but typically I have it a little higher.

00:52And then also you can see here one of my big humidifiers.

00:55Now, as you may or may not know, I live in Florida, so we deal with humidity pretty much year-round.

01:01So I have big humidifiers all around my house trying to control the humidity inside here

01:07because, again, it can be dangerous to your health, especially if you have some pre-existing health conditions,

01:13even if you have bad allergies.

01:15So high humidity inside your home can trap those pollutants.

01:19It can trigger asthma and create a perfect breeding ground for the mold and dust mites.

01:23Doctors say that the link between the indoor and that humidity health is new,

01:30but with heat and humidity on the rise in many regions, it's a reminder that what you can't see can take a toll.

01:37The warning signs might be just very small, like maybe a wheeze or coughing or just feeling off.

01:42But when you sweat, you don't evaporate and your body can't cool down.

01:47That internal stress can build, raising the risk for heat exhaustion, fatigue, and dehydration.

01:52Doctors say that moisture in the air can inflame your airways, and over time, it can put your lungs at risk.

01:59Most patients of mine who have asthma or COPD can specifically tell me when they feel the humidity is rising.

02:07I mean, so a lot of times their body is able to tell them via different symptoms,

02:11whether it's just increased coughing or increased wheezing or increased shortness of breath or chest tightness.

02:17So most patients are able to feel the early onset of it.

02:22And usually when they do, the main thing is to try to avoid the humidity.

02:29So the CDC recommends that you keep your indoor humidity somewhere between 30% and 50%.

02:35That will help.

02:36You can also get a hygrometer to gauge that.

02:39If you're seeing a window condensation on your windows, which we see often here in Florida,

02:44that is also a sign that the humidity is too high in your home if it smells musty.

02:49You want to make sure that you've got your fans running.

02:51You run those exhaust vents.

02:53And also make sure that you've got those humidifiers going.

02:56Again, I have one just about in every room in my house and keep them pretty much running 24-7.

03:01And also the best way to protect your air and your health is to make sure that you're staying out of that humidity as much as possible.

03:09Clean those AC filters as well and circulate the air as much as possible until that high humidity passes.

03:16And also you want to make sure that you check with the AccuWeather indoor humidity feature

03:21because that also can tell you whether you're dealing with high humidity in your home.

03:26It's an exclusive feature we have here at AccuWeather.

03:28You can check it online or also on your phone.

03:32And here in Florida, it is almost always in the 90s.

03:36We are expecting some cooler weather, of course, maybe in another month or so.

03:39But for now, it's going to be very humid here in the central Florida area.

03:44Reporting live near Orlando, Florida, I'm Leslie Hudson.

03:47Back to you.

03:47Leslie, great report.

03:48We were hoping more of like a Cribs edition that you just like take us into your house a little bit more.

03:52But, you know, great, great, great information.

03:54Here's my indoor theater and my indoor pool.

03:58Maybe next hit, maybe next time.

03:59Yeah, maybe next time.

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