On a regular basis, you might not think too much about the indoor air quality of your home. However, if you start to sneeze or feel unwell for no other identifiable reason, you may begin to wonder if your home’s air plays a role in the issue. Learning about the ways in which indoor air quality can affect your health may open the door to solutions.
Nasal and Throat Irritation
One common effect of indoor air pollution is irritation of the nose and throat. You might notice that you start sneezing a lot when you enter a certain room of the house, or you may realize that your throat feels dry shortly after the heat pumps up during the day. The heating system, or other components of your house, might be releasing irritants into the air. These problems could also arise after making certain renovations to your home. An inspection from one of our team members can aid in identifying and resolving the matter.
Asthma
Individuals who have breathing problems, such as asthma, can be triggered by poor indoor air quality. Bad air could lead a person to have an asthma attack. Even if a full asthma attack does not occur, other symptoms, such as wheezing and coughing, could be aggravated by the air. Over time, exposure to certain elements could cause a person to develop asthma. Also, keep in mind that even if you don’t have asthma, exposure to poor indoor air quality could lead to trouble breathing.
Allergic Reactions
You might also be allergic to the pollutants released in the air at your home. Allergic reactions can range in terms of symptoms. Some people will have skin reactions, which can cause itchiness and hives. Other individuals will sneeze and cough. Allergic reactions can lead to anaphylactic shock, which can turn deadly.
Skin Rashes and Dryness
Whether due to an allergic reaction or another form of irritation, you could be getting rashes on your skin regularly as a result of poor indoor air quality. The pollutants may be rubbing on your skin while you are sleeping, or you might put on clothes from a pile of laundry that has been sitting out and absorbing particles from the air.
Respiratory Diseases
In some cases, poor indoor air quality will aggravate respiratory issues that already exist. In other situations, the air can actually lead a person to develop a serious respiratory problem. For example, certain pollutants in a home could lead to the development of respiratory issues. Constant exposure to poor air quality can affect your health in the long term. Our team of professionals can measure the indoor air quality at your house to identify possible triggers.
Secondhand Smoke
Indoor air pollutants vary in type. If a smoker lives in your home, you might be regularly exposed to secondhand smoke. This situation could also occur in a rental property where one of the tenants smokes. Make a request that people smoke outside of the dwelling only. If you have certain medical conditions, you may need to ask smokers to shower and change immediately upon entering the house so that you can further reduce your risk of exposure.
Cancer
Certain toxins in your home could even lead to cancer. If you recently renovated parts of your home, you could have accidentally released asbestos into the area. This reason is one of the many why construction work should always be handled by professionals. Asbestos can lead to both lung disease and cancer. Other toxins in your home could also contribute to the development of cancer.
Irritated Eyes
Indoor air quality issues might also bother your eyes. You may find yourself scratching itchy eyes, which ultimately tends to only lead to more irritation. People who wear contacts might suffer from more adverse effects. For example, poor indoor air quality could be drying out your contacts and eyes, thereby leading to major irritation. While some people experience dry eyes as the result of pollutants, other individuals find that their eyes are constantly tearing up when exposed to poor air quality.
Headache and Dizziness
Poor air quality at home could lead to constant headaches and even dizziness. Any time of air pollution has the potential to be dangerous, but dizziness is often a sign of a serious matter. Make sure to always have working carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
Nausea and Vomiting
You might find yourself regularly nauseated as a result of headaches and dizziness, or vomiting could occur independent of these triggers. Vomiting can lead to severe dehydration as well.
Lack of Sleep
If you start coughing every night when you turn the air conditioner on or you wake up with a dry throat constantly in the winter, the air pollution in your home is then interfering with your sleep. A lack of sleep can lead to a variety of problems, such as difficulty focusing at work or when driving, which could lead to a fatal car accident.
Fatigue and Exhaustion
Whether due to lack of sleep or other side effects of the pollutants, you might regularly feel fatigued. Constant fatigue can lead to a lack of ability to perform job duties, take care of children and pets, and simply enjoy life.
Muscle Weakness
In addition to feeling fatigued or tired from indoor air pollution, you might also experience muscle weakness in certain scenarios. For example, exposure to some pesticides can cause muscle weakness.
Certain Populations
You also have to be aware of how poor indoor air quality can be more triggering to certain populations. For example, babies and the elderly can be more vulnerable to the effects of poor air quality. Also, individuals with certain medical conditions may suffer more as well.
Pet Health
Your pets can be negatively affected by poor indoor air quality at home too. You might notice that your pets are sneezing or coughing more regularly, or you may notice that your furry friends have irritated skin. Some pollutants could be toxic and fatal to your pets.
Effects on Your Mental Health
Regularly feeling ill, especially with no identifiable cause, can affect your mental health. You might not feel interested in participating in activities that you once enjoyed, and you may withdraw from social interactions. By getting your home’s indoor air quality checked out by our team, you can relieve yourself of this burden and finally have an answer to the source of your physical and mental health issues.
Problems with indoor air quality can be more than annoying. These issues can be painful, disruptive, and even life-threatening. Our team at White Mechanical, Inc. can provide an indoor air quality check to diagnose and resolve the issue. We serve Orange County, and we provide both commercial and residential heating and cooling services. We offer repair, installation, and maintenance for heating and cooling systems. Also, you can sign up for a maintenance agreement to keep your home comfortable and safe no matter the season. To schedule an appointment for service or a consultation, contact White Mechanical, Inc. today.
