Indoor air quality is not high on most people’s list of things to check for when discussing living healthier. But a significant amount of health problems, ranging from the common cold to more severe health concerns, can be linked to the quality of air indoors. Air quality is crucial to individuals’ overall health and well-being, especially those with compromised immune systems or the elderly. For those classes of people, making wholesale renovations and deep cleaning can be a significant task and financial burden.
The recent news that Redmond’s Cook Crossing Complex is in the works, building 48 affordable units to combat the rising rental rates throughout Central Oregon, is excellent news, especially for senior citizens. As Deschutes County Commissioner Tammy Baney is quoted as saying, “Housing is foundational to a community and quality of life revolves around having… the ability to stay in the community.”
The benefits these new 48 units will have over older housing is that with the latest build, accommodations will be cleaner and safer for the senior citizens who will live there. The affordability is one benefit, but an additional one is that the new construction will provide a safer environment to live in, especially for those with naturally compromised immune systems.
A Focus on Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is something that is often overlooked with regard to healthier living. But, it’s good to remember that for existing homes, it’s crucial to make renovations to improve air quality. This is especially true during the coming colder months when people will be back indoors. And if we’ve learned nothing else over the past couple of years, being indoors and close to others can lead to people passing various illnesses.
So what should a homeowner, business, and apartment dweller do to improve their indoor air quality? First, understanding the home’s air quality problems and how they impact your health is crucial in understanding why you need to improve your older residences.
Causes of Poor Indoor Air Quality
The root causes of poor indoor air quality are usually built-up over time. These causes can lead to severe health consequences in even the healthiest of individuals if left untreated. Some of the more typical causes of poor indoor air quality include poor circulation, heating and air conditioning ducts, a build-up of dust and dander, mold, vapors from building materials over a long period of time, smoke, and cleaning chemicals.
Symptoms of Poor Indoor Air Quality
Poor air quality can lead to short-and-long-term health impacts ranging from poor sleep discomfort and even more severe health issues that contribute to strokes, COPD, and more. The primary symptoms of poor indoor air quality mimic allergies but can include irritated eyes, runny nose and throat, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and asthma and other respiratory conditions.
Poor air quality in the home can impact the immune system, lowering its response to pathogens and making individuals more prone to illness. Moreover, poor air quality can increase the concern for more severe diseases like respiratory concerns, lung cancers, heart disease, and more.
How to Treat Poor Air Quality in the Home
Stale indoor air is one of the biggest accelerants of allergens and pollutants. However, there are some simple, cost-affecting ways to improve the air quality of your home, from cleaning to keeping the windows open.
- Keep it clean. The first thing to do to improve the air quality of your home is to keep it clean. A clean house has less dirt, mold, and dander to kick up and float around in the house. Outside of carpets and linen, the biggest trap for dust and dander to develop is clutter that can hold dust and release it into the air once it’s disturbed.
- Grow plants outdoors. Plants can help with the aesthetic of your home, adding some brightness to the house, but plants can also act to trap and hold onto mold and dust. Placing plants outdoors can help reduce the risk of mold and other allergens at home.
- Purify the air. If you’re susceptible to allergens and can’t seem to find and control the source, invest in devices designed to eliminate impurities in the air. Combine a HEPA filter, exhaust fan, ceiling fan, ionic purifier, and dehumidifier to help with removing allergens and other pollutants from your home.
- Open the windows. Creating better airflow within your home is one of the most cost-efficient ways to minimize allergens and other air pollutants.
The most important takeaway is that improving indoor air quality is essential to healthier living and disease prevention. Especially as the months get colder, people spend more time indoors and close to one another. Having circulated, purified air will aid in protecting the most vulnerable. The recent news highlighting the senior living facility in Deschutes County is a good start and should set the example of providing adequate living spaces free of environmental hazards.
