Underwear won't dry, and clothes are piling up. This is a common problem faced by many people in southern China. The humid, rainy season brings dampness everywhere. This not only disrupts our daily lives but can also cause various illnesses. Let's take a look at how to cope with this humid weather.
The humid weather during the "return of spring" season easily leads to 5 kinds of diseases.
Respiratory diseases are prevalent. Every year in March and April, the number of patients with colds at hospital outpatient clinics increases by about 30% compared to usual. This is because of the frequent "return to spring" weather, with heavy rainfall and high humidity, and fluctuating temperatures, which leads to a high incidence of infectious diseases such as colds, meningitis, chickenpox, and tonsillitis.
Cardiovascular diseases are more common during the "return to spring" weather, which is humid and stuffy, making people irritable. In addition, the weather is hot and cold, with large temperature differences between day and night, causing strong vasoconstriction and resulting in strong fluctuations in blood pressure, which has an adverse effect on the heart.
Skin diseases are on the rise. The weather is humid, and although it may appear to be only superficially damp, clothing and bedding actually absorb moisture from all directions, allowing fungi, bacteria, dust mites, and mold to thrive, leading to a series of skin diseases such as eczema, urticaria, tinea, and allergic dermatitis.
Rheumatic diseases are prevalent. Elderly people with chronic arthritis are most sensitive to the "return of spring" weather, sometimes even more so than the weather forecast. People who don't exercise and spend long hours sitting or hunched over in their daily work and life are prone to feeling generally unwell.
Vaginitis is common during humid weather. In humid conditions, clothes become damp or difficult to dry, allowing fungi such as mold, trichomoniasis, gonococci, mycoplasma, and chlamydia to multiply rapidly. These pathogens, especially through damp underwear, can easily infect women, leading to vaginitis being the most frequent infection.
How to deal with the dampness during the humid season?
1. Close windows in the morning and evening. During the humid season, closing windows in the morning and evening is the most direct way to prevent dampness. During this period, there's no need to keep windows open for extended periods; instead, it's essential to keep windows tightly closed, especially those facing south and southeast. This will effectively prevent humid air from entering the room. Humidity is high in the morning and evening; if windows and doors aren't closed promptly, moisture will permeate every corner of the home. If you're concerned about poor air circulation, it's recommended to briefly open windows around midday.
2. Hang desiccants. Dehumidifying desiccants are effective in preventing moisture. Common dehumidifying desiccants generally come in two types: moisture-absorbing boxes and dehumidifying bags. During humid weather, placing some dehumidifying desiccants in large living spaces such as the living room, bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens can help absorb moisture from the air. Many desiccants also have various fragrances, which can make the room smell nice. For enclosed spaces such as wardrobes and shoe cabinets, you can hang some dehumidifying bags. These dehumidifying bags, made from water-absorbing resin and charcoal, can help absorb moisture in wardrobes and shoe cabinets, preventing clothes from getting damp.
3. Dehumidifiers. Many household appliances nowadays have dehumidifying functions, such as air conditioners. However, air conditioners dehumidify relatively slowly and can make people feel cold. A heater can be used as an alternative, but its effective radiation range is small and it cannot provide immediate dehumidification.
4 tips to help prevent moisture
In addition to the methods mentioned above, the following practical tips can also help prevent moisture.
1. Lay down newspapers. Laying down newspapers on the floor or tables at home can help absorb moisture and prevent the house from becoming damp.
2. Dried chili peppers, firecrackers, and braziers. Traditional methods of preventing dampness include placing dried chili peppers or firecrackers in the house, as the sulfur in firecrackers not only dehumidifies but also repels insects. A brazier can also be used to raise the indoor temperature, preventing condensation and thus reducing indoor humidity; however, good ventilation is essential.
3. Mop the floor with hot water and salt. This method can speed up the evaporation of moisture. After mopping, lay some old cardboard boxes or newspapers at the doorway to reduce the amount of water brought in by shoes.
4. Use quicklime to absorb moisture. In small spaces such as bathrooms or toilets, wrap quicklime in a cloth bag to absorb moisture. Alternatively, poke a few holes in a laundry detergent bag to let the detergent absorb moisture.
