You have likely heard the saying about a man's home being his castle. This metaphor suggests that a house is a type of fortress. In other words, it is a refuge in which the owner can take shelter from the dangers of the world outside. People should rightly expect to feel safe in their home. But some homes contain invisible threats that could be working against the health of you and your family. The quality of air could be one such threat.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs portrays what a human needs as a pyramid, starting with the most basic at the bottom and becoming more complex nearing the top. The bottom includes physical needs, such as food, water, sleep and air. If any one of these needs were denied long enough, we would be unable to live. However, we are able to for weeks without food and days without water or sleep. But going more than a few minutes without air would make us just as dead. And just as food or drink of poor-quality would have a negative impact on our health, the effects of breathing poor-quality air would manifest in time. Security of health is one of the needs on the next level of the pyramid. How can you be secure in the health of your environment?
If you live in a home with poor air quality, you have most likely felt the impact it can have already. The most common health effects include regular headaches or migraines, persistent sinus problems or flu-like symptoms, and a general feeling that something is wrong with the air. Living things are naturally hearty, and can survive a wide range of sub-optimal conditions, but prolonged exposure to a hazardous environment can slowly wear away at your health and quality of life. Your homes is the one place where you regularly spend long stretches of time, even if it is just to sleep. That is why it can have such an impact on your health if your home has low-quality air.
Unhealthy air come stem from a variety of sources, but one of the most dangerous could be the building materials of the house itself. Asbestos and lead can be very toxic and have long-lasting negative health effects. While modern regulations keep them out of new homes, some older homes may still contain such hazards. If you have an older home, getting it inspected would be wise.
Floating allergens and contaminants would be the most common reason that air is declared low-quality. Fabrics have a tendency to trap these contaminants within their fibers. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it removes the particles from the air, but if these surfaces, such as carpets, curtains and furniture, are not cleaned regularly, you risk kicking them back into the air.
Things degrade over time. Matter can only last for so long before it decays and its parts are used to make something new. This cycle of decay and replacement is a good metaphor for maintaining quality air. Keeping a steady flow of fresh air to replace the stale air is one of the keys to keeping your home fresh and healthy. Open windows provide access to outdoor air, but the effects are limited and not consistent year-round. A more efficient option would be to find a system that pumps fresh, filtered air into each room of the house.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs portrays what a human needs as a pyramid, starting with the most basic at the bottom and becoming more complex nearing the top. The bottom includes physical needs, such as food, water, sleep and air. If any one of these needs were denied long enough, we would be unable to live. However, we are able to for weeks without food and days without water or sleep. But going more than a few minutes without air would make us just as dead. And just as food or drink of poor-quality would have a negative impact on our health, the effects of breathing poor-quality air would manifest in time. Security of health is one of the needs on the next level of the pyramid. How can you be secure in the health of your environment?
If you live in a home with poor air quality, you have most likely felt the impact it can have already. The most common health effects include regular headaches or migraines, persistent sinus problems or flu-like symptoms, and a general feeling that something is wrong with the air. Living things are naturally hearty, and can survive a wide range of sub-optimal conditions, but prolonged exposure to a hazardous environment can slowly wear away at your health and quality of life. Your homes is the one place where you regularly spend long stretches of time, even if it is just to sleep. That is why it can have such an impact on your health if your home has low-quality air.
Unhealthy air come stem from a variety of sources, but one of the most dangerous could be the building materials of the house itself. Asbestos and lead can be very toxic and have long-lasting negative health effects. While modern regulations keep them out of new homes, some older homes may still contain such hazards. If you have an older home, getting it inspected would be wise.
Floating allergens and contaminants would be the most common reason that air is declared low-quality. Fabrics have a tendency to trap these contaminants within their fibers. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it removes the particles from the air, but if these surfaces, such as carpets, curtains and furniture, are not cleaned regularly, you risk kicking them back into the air.
Things degrade over time. Matter can only last for so long before it decays and its parts are used to make something new. This cycle of decay and replacement is a good metaphor for maintaining quality air. Keeping a steady flow of fresh air to replace the stale air is one of the keys to keeping your home fresh and healthy. Open windows provide access to outdoor air, but the effects are limited and not consistent year-round. A more efficient option would be to find a system that pumps fresh, filtered air into each room of the house.
About the Author:
Air is absolutely essential to your body, and it will use whatever is nearby. Making sure that air is up to snuff can have long-lasting health benefits. Visit Hayward Healthy Home for more tips on having a home with healthy air.
