Difference Between Nebulizer vs Humidifier? – Benefits And Its Disadvantages

Here we will tell you the difference between Nebulizer and Humidifier because most people think both devices are the same. However, both devices give you relief from respiratory issues and create a soothing environment for asthma sufferers, but their way of working is slightly different from each other. In this article, we discuss a nebulizer vs humidifier with all their pros and cons, which will help you to decide which one is right for you and your family according to your preferences.

Both Nebulizer and Humidifier provide you with mist by converting liquid or water into the form of mist. They are also used in aerosol therapy, which reduces respiratory problems, including asthma, bronchitis, and others. A humidifier gives you a soothing humid environment and relief from dryness by adding moisture to the air. We know that low humidity is caused by dry air, which gives rise to many problems like sinusitis, congestion, allergies, and lung disorders.

On the other hand, A Nebulizer gives you a mist to keep your lungs moisturized by converting liquid medication, which can be breathed using a mouthpiece. A nebulizer is used to treat asthma and lungs disorder as it helps ease breathing. Moreover, you will get different types of humidifiers and nebulizers from which you can choose any that meet your needs perfectly. However, before using any device between Nebulizer vs Humidifier for your problems, you need to know everything about them.

Comparison Between Nebulizer vs Humidifier:

Here is a comparison table to help you understand the difference between a Nebulizer and a Humidifier. From this table, you will learn about the purposes of both devices a humidifier and nebulizer. The comparison table is given below.

Features	Nebulizer	Humidifier
Size	They are usually small in size.	They are usually large in size.
Breathing Process	It can be breathed through a mouthpiece.	It is dispersed into the air in the form of mist.
Time of Treatment	It gives you a fast treatment.	It diffuses moisture slowly in the air.
Advantage	It helps in breathing easily for asthma patients.	It keeps your body hydrated.
Price	They are usually inexpensive.	They are expensive.

What is a Humidifier, and How does it work?

A humidifier is a gadget that increases humidity levels by adding moisture to the air and removing dryness from the atmosphere. It converts water into vapors in the form of mist and gives you a soothing, comfortable humid environment. Using a humidifier will keep you hydrated and relieve you from different problems like dry skin issues, sinusitis congestion, snoring, and several allergies.  

A humidifier usually uses a fan and a wick filter to convert water into vapors in the form of mist. Some humidifiers use a heating element to boil water to convert them into vapors and give you a soothing mist. You can also add essential oils to some humidifiers, filling your room with a delightful fragrance.

The use of humidifiers is very essential for the proper growth of your houseplants and to prevent them from looking dry. However, both humidifiers and nebulizers have the same purpose of providing you with moisture, but humidifiers are not used as nebulizers. Because you cannot put nebulizer medicine such as albuterol in a humidifier as it doesn’t give any treatment.

Benefits of Humidifiers:

Some of the benefits of using a humidifier are given below.

Lessen Snoring: 

Using a humidifier gives you relief from the problem of snoring by keeping your nasal membranes hydrated. Because snoring is mostly caused due to low humidity. Low humidity causes your nasal membranes to dry, then your nasal mucus will not flow properly, and you will face the problem of snoring. 

Hydrates Your Body:

Humidifiers keep your body hydrated, especially in winter when the air is too dry. Moreover, if you live in dry areas, you also face low humidity, which is not good for your body and skin. So, you have to use a humidifier that gives you essential moisture to keep you moisturized.

Reduces Allergies:

The use of humidifiers also helps reduce several allergies like coughing, sneezing, and nosebleeds. Because dry air is the main cause of many allergies. So, using a humidifier provides you with the amount of moisture you need to get rid of allergies. 

Disadvantages of using a Humidifier:

A humidifier has lots of advantages, but it also has many inherent disadvantages. Some of the disadvantages of using a humidifier are listed below.

Firstly, when you use the humidifier regularly, the moisture level in your home increases which can lead to the growth of bacteria, mold, and viruses inside the tank. Because of these bacteria growth in the tank, you will not get a clean mist for breathing which causes certain problems for asthma sufferers.  

Secondly, humidifiers produce noise while working, which creates disturbance during your sleep at night. So, when you use a humidifier, you have to avoid its humming sound. However, ultrasonic humidifiers are very silent in their operation because of their ultrasonic technology.

Thirdly, when you use tap water or hard water for refilling the humidifier tank, there is a risk of producing a white mist around the model and floors. To avoid this, you have to use distilled water to refill the tank.

Fourthly, if your humidifier does not come with a hygrometer, there is a risk of over-humidification in your home. Because you did not know about the indoor humidity level without a hygrometer. Over-humidification is not good for your and your family’s health because it modifies the growth of bacteria in the environment, which leads to different respiratory problems like asthma. 

Moreover, if not maintained and cleaned properly, this will affect its life span and working efficiency. Then the humidifier will not give you the best results and performance.

What is a Nebulizer, and How does it work?

A nebulizer is a gadget that provides you with mist by converting liquid medication using compressed air or oxygen. You can inhale this mist using a mouthpiece or a mask. The nebulizer is the best treatment source for asthma sufferers and relieves you from respiratory issues like bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. But it does increase the moisture level of the atmosphere like a humidifier. There are three types of nebulizers: nozzle nebulizer, mesh nebulizer, and ultrasonic nebulizer.

A nebulizer usually works by putting the liquid medication in the cup provided in the nebulizer. After adding the liquid, put hot water in it, shake the mixture and then place the mixture in a mechanical device such as a compressor. With the help of a compressor, liquid converts into mist and then passes through the mouthpiece breathed by the sufferer. This mist keeps the lungs of the patients moisturized and helps in easy breathing for asthmatics.

Benefits of Nebulizers:

Here are some of the benefits of using a humidifier.

Easy To Use:

Nebulizers are very simple and easy to use compared to Inhalers. Using a nebulizer, you can easily get your medication through a mouthpiece directly into your lungs from your mouth and get relief from respiratory problems. The new models of nebulizers are portable, so you can easily carry and use them. 

Prevent Different Diseases:

Using a Nebulizer prevents different diseases like asthma, chronic bronchitis, and many other respiratory issues. If you do not treat your minor respiratory disorders, they become more severe and worse. So, use a nebulizer to keep your lungs moist and prevent different diseases from getting worse.

Effective Medical Treatment:

With the help of Nebulizers, you will get effective medical treatment for your respiratory problems. Nebulizers provide direct medications in the form of mist to your lungs through a mouthpiece and keep them moisturized. The most effective medicine best for your lung disorder is albuterol, which you can add to your nebulizer cup to get medication.

Disadvantages of using a Nebulizer:

We know that everything that has advantages will also have some disadvantages. Here are some of the disadvantages of using a nebulizer.

Firstly, Nebulizers usually need lots of maintenance for their good working efficiency and better performance. Because they are used with a mouthpiece or mask touching your mouth, which enhances the growth of germs and bacteria, so, clean them regularly and adequately after you use them.

Secondly, nebulizers are difficult to use when traveling because there is a need for a power source for its running and a proper place for putting the device, which is a little bit inconvenient while traveling.

Thirdly, you may have difficulty finding nebulizer masks or mouthpieces. It is hard to buy different sizes from the market because they are not easily available in the market.

Moreover, they are usually costly compared to other devices. Nebulizers produce a little bit of loud noise that may disturb you and others during nighttime.

FAQs About Nebulizer vs Humidifier:

Final Verdict About Nebulizer vs Humidifier:

In this article, you will know the difference between Nebulizer vs Humidifier with all their advantages and disadvantages. You know that the purpose of both devices is the same providing moisture by converting liquid into mist form with the help of vapors. Both humidifiers and nebulizers give you relief from respiratory issues with the help of aerosol therapy, in which your lungs will get moisture to keep them safe from infection.

Humidifiers are of different sizes, so you can easily place them in small rooms and large rooms. You can also use humidifiers to get an essential amount of moisture for the whole house. While Nebulizers are used by people using a mouthpiece through which the medication mist goes into their lungs. However, the choice completely depends on your needs and which device you need to choose for your home. But Nebulizers are preferable for treating asthma and other respiratory problems than humidifiers.