Believe it or not, the air within modern homes can be up to five times more polluted than outside air. When you also consider that we can spend up to ninety percent of our lives inside, the term sick building syndrome should need little explanation.
Unlike outside air, inside air is recycled over and over again with pollutants such as tobacco smoke, pollen, mold, dust and pet dander all contributing towards asthma and allergic reactions.
Some Other symptoms of sick building syndrome include dizziness, head aches, tickly throats, stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, nausea, sluggishness and an lack of concentration. Certain immediate effects are akin to those from common colds or other viral diseases, so it is frequently difficult to ascertain if the symptoms are a result of exposure to indoor air pollution.
If you notice that the symptoms fade when you are in the open air, you should try to identify inside air sources which might be possible causes and attempt to get rid of them. As luck would have it, indoor air pollution is one health risk that you can do something about.
Here are seven easy steps you can take to improve the air quality in your home.
No Smoking Inside
Ideally, you should ban smoking anywhere within the house but if this is not possible, endeavour to restrict it to one place. In our case, if friends or family, who are also smokers, call, they are either banished to the back yard or the kitchen area. If you have an extractor fan fitted in the kitchen, make sure that it is switched on and endeavour to have smokers stand as close as possible to the fan so that the fumes get sucked out.
Let the Bad Air Out
Provided that it is not freezing cold or blowing a gale outside, let some outdoor air in by opening your windows and doors every so often. Doing so will also get rid of some of the pollutants that have built up within your house. Make good use of kitchen and bathroom extractor fans. Clean and check the fan and any vents on a regular basis and clean or replace any filters that may be fitted.
Use Natural Home Cleaning Products
Pick Out any one of those so called wonder kitchen cleaners from your cupboard and someplace on the label will be a warning as to how hazardous they are to your health. Moreover, look at what they are made of and see if you can recognise the names of any of the substances in that bottle. In fact, I doubt you will even be able to say the name, not to mention recognize what it is. As soon as you use that product, a lot of those chemicals go into the air, the fumes of which are inhaled. I have quite often started coughing after spraying counter tops with so called anti-bacterial cleaner. Personally, I have taken the enviromentally friendly route to household cleaning. Baking soda, washing soda crystals, white vinegar and pure lemon juice will work wonders for most cleaning tasks. They are not only cheaper but they also do not release any toxic fumes into your house.
Keep you Home Clean and Dust Free
Although it may appear obvious to some folks, regularly vacuuming your carpets and floors can go a long way in controlling airborne allergens and dust. It is claimed (although I have no proof) that some seventy percent of all house dust comprises of dead skin, which we humans molt all the time. Dust mites successively feed on this dead skin that falls from our bodies. They then grow and shed their own skin and it is this together with their feces that causes allergic reactions in people.
Pet Dander Allergic Reactions
If you have a family pet, they will molt dander that can trigger allergic reactions and asthma. Something needs to be done if you suspect that either you or another household member are allergic to pet dander. The ideal solution is to keep pets out of the house completely. If that is not a viable option, you should restrict the number of rooms that the pets are allowed to enter and definitely keep them away from the bedroom.
Reduce Indoor Air Humidity
Living in a wet climate or an area of high humidity can both result in moisture levels in the house increasing dramatically. A consequence of excessive moisture is the growth of mold and mildew. For anybody with extreme allergic reactions, mold spores are as bad, if not worse, than dust. For that reason, a home dehumidifier can be essential. An air purifier dehumidifier will extract moisture from the air and into a water tank which you can then remove and pour away.
Get an Indoor Air Purifier
Home air purifiers are units that clean indoor air of allergens, like mold spores, pollen and pet dander. They are especially useful if you or a family member suffers from allergic reactions or asthma since they can reduce airborne contaminants by a substantial amount. Indoor air purifiers have become very popular of late because they are able to clean the air in your house while making it a lot healthier to breathe in. However, there are different types of air purification technologies, some of which may not be suitable in all situations.
Tags: allergy and asthma, allergy asthma, home air purifiers, home dehumidifier, indoor air pollution, indoor air quality, sick building syndrome