In today’s modern world, maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires vigilance. In the past, if people tried living a healthy lifestyle, a good diet and exercise would usually suffice.
Life, however, is a lot different than it was a generation ago and science has come a long way. Nowadays, not only is diet and exercise important. Nowadays people trying to live healthy lifestyles have to consider the air they are breathing, especially the air they’re breathing indoors. Why?
Because studies are showing that even in the biggest most industrialized cities in the United States (where people often imagine the air being filled with smog) the air within our homes can be far more toxic than the air outside.
Why Indoor Air Quality is Important in My Springfield Area Home
What makes this health concern more serious, health experts say, is that Americans spend an estimated 90 percent of their time indoors, which makes indoor air pollution an even greater risk to us than outdoor air pollution.
Studies show Indoor Air Quality has a notable effect on not only our health; it also impacts our overall well being, our energy levels, our mood, and our brain function. And yet the air we breathe in our homes and workplaces can be anywhere from two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, the EPA reports. In severe cases, they said it can be up to a hundred times worse.
Because people tend to think of air pollution as an outdoor issue of smoke and smog, the importance of Indoor Air Quality doesn’t resonate with a lot of people at first. However, it begins to make sense once we realize how tightly insulated our homes are made to keep heated and cooled air inside and energy costs down. Because modern homes are air tight, household air pollution can’t escape. In the big open spaces of nature, the earth cleans the air in a host of ways — the wind and the trees being only two. In nature, the pollution can rise as well. In the confined spaces of a house or office, however, pollutants have nowhere to go. They can become a health problem without proper filtration or without outdoor air being pulled in to circulate.
Health Implications of Indoor Air Pollution
Short-term health implications can arise after a single exposure, or multiple, if household air pollution is present. It can irritate the eyes, the nose, the throat, and skin. Or, it can cause headaches, dizziness and fatigue.
In the worst reported cases, health officials warn, long-term exposure to certain types of air pollution indoors can lead to heart disease, respiratory illness and even cancer. It can be fatal in extreme cases, according to health officials, which is why testing is important.
Because household air pollution has become such a serious issue, we at Springfield Heating & Cooling advise homeowners to take certain measures to safeguard their health and the health of their loved ones.
We will discuss these measures more in this four-part series. Some of these suggestions include getting the air in your home checked, and if needed, upgrading your air filtration system, boosting the ventilation of air, and most importantly identifying and eradicating any sources of household air pollution.
YOUR COMFORT, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IS IMPORTANT TO US!
At Springfield Heating & Cooling, we care about your home comfort levels. Keeping homeowners and their families comfortable year-round is our mission. However, more importantly, we also care about your health and safety. With Indoor Air Quality having such an impact on your health and well being, we present this information in hopes you find it useful. If you would like to learn more about any of the products and services we offer, or if you’d like to set up an appointment, give us a call at 937-350-1881, or click here to schedule an appointment now.
Indoor Air Quality 101: Part 2
