Is Your Home Making You Sick: Signs, Symptoms, and Tips on Improving Indoor Air Quality

The average person spends about 90% of their time indoors.

With percentages this high, it is safe to say that indoor air has a lot more impact on our health

than outdoor air quality.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, approximately six out of 10 residential

and commercial properties are detrimental to your health as a result of pollutants in the air.

Signs Your Home Could be Making You Sick

If you believe that your home could be causing you to feel less than yourself lately, it could

be a sign that you need to do a little spring cleaning.

Below are some common symptoms, diseases, and conditions that could result

from toxins and pollutants within a building:

· Irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat

· Stuffy feeling

· Headaches

· Nausea

· Flu-like symptoms

When you’re exposed to too many air pollutants, your body will respond immediately.

The above described symptoms start within an hour of entering your home.

The symptoms will also subside very quickly after you’ve left the premises.

Harmful indoor chemicals and building materials inside the home can lead

to serious conditions including:

· Anemia

· Asthma

· Allergies

· Chronic fatigue

· Mesothelioma

· Other forms of cancer

· Brain damage

· Death

Tips for Eliminating Harmful Contaminants In Your Home

1. Asbestos

Was your home built between the years 1920 and 1978?

If so, you could be exposed to asbestos on a regular basis.

Asbestos is a common building material used for floor and roof tiles as well as wall

and pipe insulation.

The fibers in this building material are so small that they can travel through the lungs

leaving a scar.

This can lead to a lung cancer called mesothelioma.

“Asbestos is not a material

you want to remove

on your own.”

If you have an older home, have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or notice exposed 

materials with asbestos on them, contact a professional contractor to safely remove the

 materials for you.

Attention: If you or someone you love has been unknowingly exposed to asbestos and

suffer from cancer, you may want to consult a mesothelioma law firm to determine if

you can be compensated.

Though it may not erase the ordeal completely, it can ensure that you’re financially taken

care of as you work to beat your disease.

2. Mold or Mildew

Water that leaks onto materials that do not have the proper ventilation to air out will

eventually turn to mold.

Mold growth can lead to upper respiratory illnesses such as severe allergies and asthma.

Over time, mold and mildew can damage your home’s structure as well.

To get rid of mold and mildew you’ll need to:

· Fix leaks or issues with moisture

· Ensure kitchens, bathrooms, and basements have proper ventilation

· Keep the gutters clean

· Disinfect and bleach areas where there are small amounts of mold growth

· Contact a mold removal specialist if you find large amounts of black mold

3. Allergens

Allergies can really be a pain in the neck.

From stuffiness and sneezing to snotty noses and postnasal drip, allergens in the air can

really wreak havoc on your health.

To reduce the amount of allergens in the home, try these tips:

· Keep pets out of the bedroom

 (Dander can easily get on the sheets, which can then be inhaled causing an allergic flare)

· Consider an air filtration system to improve the air quality

· Open windows and/or doors to allow natural air in on a daily basis

· Get rid of dust mites by dusting and vacuuming frequently

This is just a short list of the many environmental hazards that could be lurking in your home.

If you’ve been feeling sick or out of sorts lately, consider giving your home a good cleaning to

remove the contaminants in the air.

“If you’re dealing with 

something more serious like

asbestos or black mold,

be sure to contact

a professional to assist you

with proper removal.”

After you’ve cleaned and aired out your home, you should find that your health starts to

restore itself.

PIN & SHARE!

Are you concerned about mold, mildew, asbestos, allergens or other contaminants in your home?

What are you doing to address these issues?

Share your thoughts and comments with us.

“Shared at Kind &  Healthy Fridays”