The Health Biz

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 require little explanation.

Inside pollutants such as dust, pet dander, tobacco smoke, mold spores and pollen tend to be continually recycled which ultimately means that sufferers of allergy induced asthma are making their complaint worse by being inside.

There are a number of symptoms associated with so called sick building syndrome including stuffy nose, watery or itchy eyes, head aches, lethargy, lack of concentration and nausea.  However, because several of these symptoms are similar to those of a common cold, it is not always easy to to decide if indoor pollution is the reason or if it is because of some type of viral infection.

If you notice that the symptoms fade when you are away from home, you should try to identify inside air sources which may be possible causes and attempt to get rid of them. Fortunately, indoor air pollution is one health hazard that you can do something about.

Here are seven easy measures you can take to improve the air quality in your house.

Do Not Smoke Indoors

Even though this may sound obvious, you should in effect ban smoking within your home or at the least confine it to one room. In our case, any friends or family that visit are limited to the kitchen area or the back garden if they want to smoke. In the kitchen, an extractor fan pushes the smoky air outside as it does with cooking odors.

Let the Bad Air Out

Weather permitting, you should open windows and doors in order to lower the concentrations of indoor pollutants while allowing outdoor air to come in. 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.

Throw Those Chemical Cleaners

If you have ever taken the time to understand the labels on home cleaning products, most of them will include a warning about how harmful the chemical substances are for your health or skin. Every time you use that product, fumes from whatever is in the bottle get released into the air for you to breathe in. How is it that some well known anti bacterial cleaners start your eyes watering and bring on a coughing fit. Not anymore though, as my natural cleaning products of choice are baking soda, washing soda, vinegar and pure lemon juice. These are all non toxic, environmentally friendly and can undertake the majority of cleaning jobs, either individually or mixed with one another.

Keep you House Clean and Dust Free

Although it might appear obvious to some folks, regularly vacuuming your carpets and floors can go a long way in controlling airborne allergens and dust. It is said (although I have no proof) that some seventy percent of all household dust consists of dead skin, which we humans molt day in and day out. Dust mites like to feed on this dead skin which in turn makes them grow. They then shed their own skin and that, combined with their fecal matter is what causes allergic reactions in people.

Pet Dander Allergies

For those families with a cat, dog or other pet, allergic reactions such as asthma can be triggered by their dander, which they molt day in and day out. Something needs to be done if you suspect that either you or another household member are allergic to pet dander. Ideally, it is better to keep pets out of the house completely although that is seldom possible. As a possible alternative, try and restrict the rooms that the pet is allowed into. One definite area to keep them out of is the bedroom.

Reduce Indoor Air Humidity

If the clime where you live is either very humid or just plain damp (as in too much rainfall), you will no doubt be aware of just how much moisture levels within your house can increase. A result of excessive moisture is the growth of mold and mildew. For anybody with extreme allergies, mold spores are as bad, if not worse, than dust. Dehumidifiers can be a godsend in a humid environment because they are capable of removing excess moisture from the surrounding air, thereby keeping mold and the resulting spores at bay.

Get an Indoor Air Purifier

Home air purifiers or room air cleaners do as their name suggests and clean the air of pollutants and allergens like mold spores, pollen, cigarette smoke and pet dander.  Besides being used to reduce the concentration of these airborne contaminants, they are especially useful for individuals who suffer from allergic reactions and asthma attacks.  Air purifiers and room air cleaners are quickly increasing in popularity because they make indoor air healthier and cleaner. All the same, there are several types of air purifier, some of which can actually make allergies worse rather than better.

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