There is an old saying that a man's home is his castle. This implies that the home is some sort of fortress; a haven from the dangers of the outside world. And rightly so. The home should be the place where you feel safe. However, there is potential that your home could be harboring dangers that you are not aware of. One way it can do this is with the quality of air.
We as human beings are naturally needy creatures. If certain needs are not met on a day to day basis, your body will react negatively. The most basic and vital needs are for air, water and food. But certain needs are more important than others. If you were forced to, you could survive for several days without taking a drink, and several weeks without taking a bite of anything. But if you were to go more than a few minutes without air, that would be the end for you. The quality of all of these resources matters as well, if you drank stagnant water, or regularly consumed unhealthy food, your health would reflect that. The same is true of regularly breathing low-quality air.
If you live in a home with poor air quality, you have most likely felt the impact it can have already. The most common health effects include regular headaches or migraines, persistent sinus problems or flu-like symptoms, and a general feeling that something is wrong with the air. Living things are naturally hearty, and can survive a wide range of sub-optimal conditions, but prolonged exposure to a hazardous environment can slowly wear away at your health and quality of life. Your homes is the one place where you regularly spend long stretches of time, even if it is just to sleep. That is why it can have such an impact on your health if your home has low-quality air.
Unhealthy air come stem from a variety of sources, but one of the most dangerous could be the building materials of the house itself. Asbestos and lead can be very toxic and have long-lasting negative health effects. While modern regulations keep them out of new homes, some older homes may still contain such hazards. If you have an older home, getting it inspected would be wise.
Another common source of air contaminants would be soft fabrics. The fibers of carpets, blankets, curtains and furniture are particularly adept at holding onto dust and allergens, releasing them back into the air when used or moved. Regular, thorough cleaning can help mitigate this problem.
Almost everything on the planet decays over time, only to be replaced by something new. Out with the old, in with the new, they say. Following a similar idea with the air in your home is a good idea. Making sure that new, fresh air is constantly replacing the old, stale air is one of the keys to maintaining good air quality. Open windows can help, but this has limited benefits and is not possible during certain times of year. A more consistent option would be to install a house-wide filtration system that pumps fresh air into every room in the home.
We as human beings are naturally needy creatures. If certain needs are not met on a day to day basis, your body will react negatively. The most basic and vital needs are for air, water and food. But certain needs are more important than others. If you were forced to, you could survive for several days without taking a drink, and several weeks without taking a bite of anything. But if you were to go more than a few minutes without air, that would be the end for you. The quality of all of these resources matters as well, if you drank stagnant water, or regularly consumed unhealthy food, your health would reflect that. The same is true of regularly breathing low-quality air.
If you live in a home with poor air quality, you have most likely felt the impact it can have already. The most common health effects include regular headaches or migraines, persistent sinus problems or flu-like symptoms, and a general feeling that something is wrong with the air. Living things are naturally hearty, and can survive a wide range of sub-optimal conditions, but prolonged exposure to a hazardous environment can slowly wear away at your health and quality of life. Your homes is the one place where you regularly spend long stretches of time, even if it is just to sleep. That is why it can have such an impact on your health if your home has low-quality air.
Unhealthy air come stem from a variety of sources, but one of the most dangerous could be the building materials of the house itself. Asbestos and lead can be very toxic and have long-lasting negative health effects. While modern regulations keep them out of new homes, some older homes may still contain such hazards. If you have an older home, getting it inspected would be wise.
Another common source of air contaminants would be soft fabrics. The fibers of carpets, blankets, curtains and furniture are particularly adept at holding onto dust and allergens, releasing them back into the air when used or moved. Regular, thorough cleaning can help mitigate this problem.
Almost everything on the planet decays over time, only to be replaced by something new. Out with the old, in with the new, they say. Following a similar idea with the air in your home is a good idea. Making sure that new, fresh air is constantly replacing the old, stale air is one of the keys to maintaining good air quality. Open windows can help, but this has limited benefits and is not possible during certain times of year. A more consistent option would be to install a house-wide filtration system that pumps fresh air into every room in the home.
About the Author:
Air is absolutely essential to your body, and it will use whatever is nearby. Making sure that air is up to snuff can have a positive long-term effect on your health. Visit Hayward Healthy Home for more tips on having a home with healthy air.