Living with poor air quality is something which millions of people do every day, often without realizing it. This is an issue worth tackling because of the other complications it can cause, but the first step is to work out if you have a problem in the first place.
To that end, here are a few of the signs of poor air quality and the ways you can deal with it efficiently and effectively.
Respiratory issues & other health symptoms
Your body may already be telling you about the poor quality of the air in your home; you just need to know what signs to look out for.
Common symptoms include everything from irritation and dryness in your respiratory system, right up to headaches, nausea and even fatigue.
All of these could be signs of other issues, of course, but the way to tell if poor air quality is the culprit is to pay attention to when they kick in. If they are alleviated after a few hours away from home, perhaps while working or visiting friends, then air quality is definitely the issue.
Investing in one of the best air purifiers is a sensible step to deal with many of these symptoms, as modern models are capable of removing the polluting particles from the air which may have been brought in from outside.
Mould & mildew
Poor air quality can also be detected if walls, surfaces and furniture in your home attract mould and mildew.
This is usually caused by an excess of moisture, in combination with the warmth that is generated as a requirement in most homes to make them comfortable.
A lack of ventilation is the issue here, and mould and mildew will themselves create similar symptoms to those mentioned earlier, due to the spores they release.
Usually older properties are more prone to mould and mildew, because they are not designed with modern glazing in mind. Making sure to strike a good balance between ventilation and heating can solve this.
Allergies
Poor air quality will cause some people to suffer allergic reactions, and may even exacerbate underlying allergies that you didn’t even know that you had before.
Improvements can once again be made by using the right type of air purifier; just make sure that it is rated highly enough to capture the kinds of particles which may be responsible for triggering your allergies.
It is also worth mentioning that poor air quality can also result from infrequent cleaning of your home, as leaving surfaces covered in dust and other detritus for longer can compromise the air around it as well.
Likewise if you do not open windows when cleaning, or even in the course of the day for short periods, fresh air will not be allowed to enter in large enough volumes to displace the poor air inside.
In short, the battle against poor air quality may be an ongoing one, but with the right knowledge and tools, you can triumph.