The Health Impacts of the Air Quality in Your Home

According to the World Health Organization, as many as 4.3 million people a year die from diseases linked to poor indoor air quality caused specifically by the improper use of solid fuels for cooking. That’s quite a big number for only one of the many causes of household air pollution. The American Lung Association has similar findings, citing asthma and lung cancer as possible illnesses people can get from bad indoor air quality caused by carpeting, chemicals, dander, dust, mold, paint, and other pollutants commonly found at a typical residence.

Aside from these illnesses, household air pollution can cause discomforts such as itchy eyes, irritated nose, sore throat, and headaches. They may not be as threatening as full-blown disease, but they can be bad enough to make you miss a day at work or school.

This news does sound dreary, but there’s a silver lining. Improving indoor air quality is a doable process, and it begins with educating yourself. Aside from preventing cardiovascular and pulmonary illnesses, good air quality delivers other benefits such as:

Balancing Humidity

• Clean air contains the right balance of moisture. Too much moisture in the air causes discomfort, damages wood and other surfaces, hinders proper ventilation, and racks up energy usage. On the other hand, not enough moisture can cause skin irritations and sinus infections

Improving Quality of Life

• As mentioned, good indoor air quality can prevent illnesses from the common cold to lung cancer. Beyond that, it also makes your breathing easier. Though breathing is an unconscious action, inhaling air full of pollutants can cause shallow and labored breathing. But with clean air, you’ll feel better — and sleep better, too

Lowering Utility Bills

• Good indoor air quality results in proper ventilation, so your HVAC system (assuming it’s in a good condition as well) can work efficiently without using up extra energy. Though this doesn’t affect your health directly, the fact that you don’t have to stress over bills has a positive impact on your well-being

Minimizing the Presence of Allergens

• When almost a third of the worldwide population suffers from allergic rhinitis, chances are that you or someone else in your household is suffering from it. But with clean air at home, the presence of common allergens like pollen, spores, or mites can be eliminated or at least, significantly reduced.

Reducing unpleasant odors

• Your home should be your oasis after a long day of being busy, so it shouldn’t have bad odors to ruin your relaxation. Worse, they have a bigger effect when you’re trying to get things done. Funky smells can ruin your concentration and put you in a foul mood on top of it.

Now that you know how important good indoor air quality is, you may be wondering how you can get it for your home. Worry no more, as we at Healthy Air are here to help you. When it comes to indoor air quality, we take a whole-home approach so that our clients can enjoy every room of their abode without worries. Contact us now to talk to our experienced consultants.