Are you worried about the air inside your home? If your kids are constantly coughing and sneezing, you may need to take a hard look at it. The dangers of indoor air pollution are very real for families, but they are something that many moms and dads forget to think about. So, if you want to better protect your family’s health, you should start by bettering the quality of the air in your home by knowing these helpful tips.
How Your Home Can Make You Sick
In the natural world, mold is all around us. Inside your home, the presence of mold can cause some serious problems for your family. When mold is hiding inside your home, you and your children may experience frequent coughing, excessive sneezing, and asthma. Over time, exposure to mold can intensify those symptoms and make your family very sick. Aside from mold problems, other pollutants can cause health issues as well. Fur, feathers, and dander from pets can bring on allergy symptoms and air filled with these pollutants can impact the way your organs and brain work. In short, the air inside your home can be bad news for your health, so make sure you know the signs of a serious problem. Wheezing or shortness of breath are common indicators of pulmonary problems, but even symptoms like swollen limbs and pain can be related to your respiratory health. Keep these symptoms in mind and keep your home clean.
What You Can Do to Protect Your Family
The health risks that poor air quality can pose to your family are pretty frightening. However, there are ways you can help improve the air your family is breathing every day. Start by reducing pollutants that are present inside your home. One of the main culprits behind indoor air pollution are the fabrics you use inside your home. Carpet, fabric drapes, and furniture and furnishings can all contribute to poor air quality. Carpet and rugs tend to trap dust and allergens, so opt for hardwood floors or tile when you can. You can also go for blinds instead of curtains on your windows and choose furniture that is made of solid wood rather than popular particle board options. To protect your family from allergies, you should also reduce allergens, by landscaping wisely and using your AC to keep dust, pollen, and dander from building up inside your home. Cleaning is also an important step in keeping pollutants and allergens at bay. For allergy sufferers, adding a few extra cleaning steps can be enough to provide relief from runny noses and watery eyes. Creating a regular cleaning schedule that allows you to keep your home tidy is vital when you have allergies. Make time every week to vacuum, wash your bedding, and thoroughly dust every surface in your home.
How You Can Reduce Toxins in Your Home
Mold, allergens, and smoke are not the only dangers that can be found in the air your family is breathing. Your home may contain chemicals and toxins that can impact your family’s health as well. Sometimes, they are present in the items you think offer your family protection. For example, many fabrics and couches are treated with flame retardants that can actually disrupt thyroid function in children and adults. Even nursing pillows contain these chemicals, which end up binding to dust particles in your home and finding their way into your body when you breathe. Cleaning can help you create a toxin-free home, as long as you use natural, non-toxic products that will not leave other toxic chemicals behind. Many parents choose to make their own cleaners to ensure they are not exposing their children to chemicals while trying to protect them from dust and germs.
We watch what our kids eat, how they sleep, and what they do to keep them safe. However, we should also be worried about the quality of the air they breathe. Having clean air at home is the first step in preventing allergies, asthma, and other serious health issues. If you are a parent, make sure you are taking steps to protect them and purify their air.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Guest post written by: Amanda Henderson