Watch your winter humidity levels

by Jen (January 11, 2007)

It seems to be an unusually dry winter where I live. Different people react different ways to this, but it can cause dry skin, throats, and nasal passages. Here are a few suggestions for keeping hydrated.

• Drink lots of water. I know it’s a no-brainer, but it’s easy to forget when it’s cold outside and your thoughts turn to hot drinks. Drinking water with electrolytes is an especially good idea - such as Smart Water.
• Use a humidifier or keep some water boiling in a pot or tea kettle on the stove to keep your home at normal humidity levels. (Most humidifiers put out cold water, which can reduce the heat in your home. Consider getting a warm water one or using the pot-on-stove trick to keep your heating bills as low as possible.)
• Breathe steam through a hot wet washcloth.
• Make a “steam tent” by running the hottest possible water in the sink, leaning over it, and putting a large towel over your head and the edges of the sink to keep the steam in. (Also great for coughs and congestion.)
• Breathe deeply in the shower or tub.
• If your workplace is dry (or any other environment you can’t bring a humidifier into), boil a cup of water in the microwave and breathe the steam from it.
• Keep saline products on hand, which are easy to carry with you. These include mists and gels that help moisturize your nasal passages and throat.

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