Can Indoor Air Quality Affect Your Health?
April 15th, 2017 by Darwilladmin
Health doesn’t depend on lifestyle alone but also relies on the quality of the air we breathe. Even if you spend most of your time indoors, chemicals and particles in the air can affect your health.
Indoor Air Quality and Health
Indoor air quality is the quality of the air inside your home. Air includes many elements and particles. This includes pollutants. Common pollutants include chemicals, mold, allergens, radon, gasses, smoke, and pesticides. Repeated exposure to many air pollutants can lead to health problems.
Acute Health Effects
Immediate reactions to indoor air pollutants depend on many factors. Age and pre-existing medical conditions are the two main factors. You’ll notice these symptoms after a single or repeated exposure to a pollutant. You will feel better after leaving the area with poor indoor air quality.
Symptoms of immediate or acute health effects can include:
- Eye, nose and throat irritation
- Allergic skin reaction
- Wheezing
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Nosebleed
- Headaches
- Coughing and sneezing
These effects are treatable and only last for a short period of time. Not enough fresh air can aggravate some symptoms of pre-existing medical issues. It could also come from the temperature and humidity conditions indoors.
Chronic Health Effects
Other health effects may show up after persistent exposure to these pollutants. These effects can include respiratory, heart conditions, and cancer. These conditions can worsen over time and can be a permanent burden on an individual.
Health Effects on the Respiratory System
It is our respiratory system which takes much of the pollutants present in the air. Acquiring a respiratory disease can be a chronic health condition. You’ll get these following diseases from the polluted indoor air:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Asthma and
- Allergies
People with asthma or COPD will notice they have more mucous, and frequent wheezing and cough.
Health Effects on Heart
Indoor pollutants also provoke your heart’s health. It’s because of the toxic chemical present in it which is cancerous and fatal. Here are the heart diseases associated with polluted indoor air:
- Light-headedness
- Chest pain or angina
- Arrhythmia
- Swelling in the ankles and feet
- Increased shortness of breath and
- Heart failure
People with diabetes are also at risk. They are more likely to have an existing heart condition already. Talk to your doctor if you think poor indoor air quality could be making things worse.
Mold-Related Health Issues
Health problems caused by molds are acute and occur after a few days’ exposure. Health problems associated with exposure to molds include:
- Eye, nose and throat irritation
- Headache
- Short-term memory loss
Some pollutants and bacteria found indoors have specific risks. Asbestosis and Legionnaires’ disease are the most common.
Who Is At Risk?
The people most at risk include children, seniors, and those with medical conditions. Those who are active and who live near busy roadways and commercial industries are also at high risk. Even if the pollution is outside, it doesn’t mean it can’t come inside your home.
What to Do When Suffering from Air Quality Health Problems
If you have health problems from poor indoor air quality, lower harmful emissions. If it is due to poor indoor air quality at work, talk with your supervisor or health representative.
Track when these symptoms and time they go away. It will help your doctor find if your symptoms are from air quality problems or another health issue.
Improve your health. Consider improving your indoor air quality. Explore our air quality products from the best in the business. Check out our line-up of superior products to help keep your air clean and safe.
You want to consider the people who live in your home. The people living there are the most important. Call the professionals at Thornton at 847-905-1608. Make sure that you are comfortable and breathing clean air at all times!