“How long will my lungs take to acclimate to higher humidity?”
So, I am planning to move back to Hawaii soon, and am wondering if this is a good idea. A little background. I grew up in Michigan, a place known for humidity. Lived there for 28 years. Moved to Southern Florida for a few years before making a move out west to live in the Mojave Desert.
I lived in Las Vegas for 14 years before getting tired of only seeing dirt and rocks. Made a short 2 year living in Southern California. No issues yet. I went back to Vegas for a couple of years, got tired of the city again and this time ended up making the move to Hawaii. I loved it there except for one not-so-small detail. I had trouble breathing (this was in late 2017).
I stayed in Hawaii for 18 months until the pandemic hit. The entire time I would find myself short of breath, dizzy, and with a numb face and fingers sometimes. This wasn't every day, mind you, but happened when I would walk. I assume it was the humidity.
Moving back to the mainland, I stayed in Vegas again for a month (no breathing issues), before making a short 3 month stay in North Carolina, where I didn't have an issue breathing, even while hiking unless it was really humid out.
Then I took a job at IKEA in Renton (Seattle) and boy did the breathing issue kick in hard. (I am still there, not at IKEA though, I couldn't continue to work due to always being out of breath and feeling like I had water in my lungs). As I sit here, I am having trouble breathing. Feels like I am in water. No, it's not COVID, this has been going on for years now and I can still smell and taste fine.
So, I am wondering. After such a long time in the desert, did I permanently mess my lungs up? Can I no longer enjoy a humid environment? I want to enjoy living in a beautiful place, but if I am having trouble breathing every day, it's not going to be enjoyable at all. How long is it going to take for my lungs to acclimate back to a 60-90% humidity environment after spending so much time in a 0-10% humidity environment? Will I ever acclimate or am I stuck living in a desert?
I lived in Las Vegas for 14 years before getting tired of only seeing dirt and rocks. Made a short 2 year living in Southern California. No issues yet. I went back to Vegas for a couple of years, got tired of the city again and this time ended up making the move to Hawaii. I loved it there except for one not-so-small detail. I had trouble breathing (this was in late 2017).
I stayed in Hawaii for 18 months until the pandemic hit. The entire time I would find myself short of breath, dizzy, and with a numb face and fingers sometimes. This wasn't every day, mind you, but happened when I would walk. I assume it was the humidity.
Moving back to the mainland, I stayed in Vegas again for a month (no breathing issues), before making a short 3 month stay in North Carolina, where I didn't have an issue breathing, even while hiking unless it was really humid out.
Then I took a job at IKEA in Renton (Seattle) and boy did the breathing issue kick in hard. (I am still there, not at IKEA though, I couldn't continue to work due to always being out of breath and feeling like I had water in my lungs). As I sit here, I am having trouble breathing. Feels like I am in water. No, it's not COVID, this has been going on for years now and I can still smell and taste fine.
So, I am wondering. After such a long time in the desert, did I permanently mess my lungs up? Can I no longer enjoy a humid environment? I want to enjoy living in a beautiful place, but if I am having trouble breathing every day, it's not going to be enjoyable at all. How long is it going to take for my lungs to acclimate back to a 60-90% humidity environment after spending so much time in a 0-10% humidity environment? Will I ever acclimate or am I stuck living in a desert?
Male | 50 years old
Complaint duration: 2 years
Conditions: Trouble breathing
1 Answer
The internal lung environment is always humid. Atmospheric humidity has no effect.
