You’d never think that your home, your sanctuary, the place you get to escape from the outside world and be whoever you want to be, could be the same thing that's harming your body. How could the one place you created solely for you, be doing more damage to you than bringing you more joy and peace? Well, it’s actually pretty easy for it to do so. There are so many reasons why your home may be causing harm to you physically. Of course, you may not know but your home could be harming your respiratory system badly, and here’s how.
The In-Home Air Pollutants Are Worse Than You Think
When it comes to cleaning, you probably believe that you’re doing a good job or even a great job and you most likely are. Whether you’re the type to clean something every day, or dedicate your Saturdays or Sundays to a weekly cleaning and a deep clean twice a month, how well you clean isn’t the only thing you have to worry about when keeping your home sanitized and free of germs.
You also have to worry about what’s floating around in the air that you’re breathing. Besides how spotless your home may be, you still need to be mindful of how well the air quality is indoors.
There are many different types of in-home air pollutants that you probably didn’t think were that hazardous.
For example, when you're cleaning, the smell of Clorox or Bleach might make you feel good knowing that your house is clean, but these cleaning supplies are not good to inhale, especially when there is nothing to filter it out.
Other types of indoor air pollutants can be smoke such as tobacco, gas from the stove, molds, pesticides, lead, asbestos, carbon monoxide, pet dander, radon and more. Now to you, these may just be normal scents that you smell from time to time in your home, but these “normal scents” are also very dangerous.
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How These Pollutants Can Be Destroying Your Respiratory System
Once these chemicals, gas and products are inhaled, they can cause your body to react. You can begin to feel irritation in your throat, nose and eyes, as well as in your chest. Breathing in these pollutants can irritate your airways.
Once the airways are irritated, you will start to experience shortness of breath, wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest pains, coughing (which can be severe) and triggered episodes (asthma).
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The more you are exposed to these air pollutants, the higher your risk for developing lung cancer, strokes, heart attacks and COPD. It can also lead to headaches, fatigue and dizziness.
How This Can Lead To Chronic Bronchitis
If you are exposed to these harmful air hazards often, it can lead to consistent irritation which can lead to an inflamed airway. Once your airway is inflamed or irritated to severity, it can cause a constant cough that can last anywhere from 3 minutes to 3 years (literally). This is what you call chronic bronchitis.
Bronchitis is the inflammation in the lining of your bronchial tubes that carries air to and from your lungs. It becomes severe or chronic when the inflammation lasts for long periods of time and your symptoms start to worsen. This is also a form of COPD which is a group of diseases that directly affects your respiratory system.
So how will you know if your home can lead to problems? Take a look at what you may be experiencing. Do you feel healthier outside? Are you noticing any abnormal or strong odors? Is your home more humid than usual? If you notice any of these, do you notice any symptoms as well such as throat, nose and chest irritation? Trouble breathing? Coughing fits or your symptoms are flaring and worsening from a pre-existing condition? If so, then your indoor air quality is probably hazardous and needs to be fixed immediately.
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Other Pollutants That Can Lead To COPD
Besides mold and mildew, gas and cleaning chemicals, there are other pollutants that can lead to COPD in your home. Insects and bugs, a broken air conditioner, damaged pipes or chimneys, getting your home remodeled, and even dust and pollen can lead to COPD if exposed to it for too long and too often.
To get your home to be a safer environment, invest in an air purifier. This will help eliminate harmful air pollutants. You should also try to prevent smoking inside the home if you haven’t already.
Always provide ventilation when cleaning, after any type of remodeling, or even when the weather changes.
Keeping your home clean and safe is the real way to make your home your sanctuary, so be mindful and air it out.
