Are you experiencing symptoms from poor indoor air quality?

Last week, we talked about the high occurrence of poor indoor air and some of the main causes of poor quality air.  Bad ventilation and common indoor and outdoor pollutants were among the top of the list.  If you missed it last week, you can find that list here.  It would be beneficial to you and your family to go over this list and see where you can make changes in your home to improve the quality of air that you experience everyday.

Poor indoor air can affect your health.

As we mentioned last week, research has shown that people, on average, spend about 90% of their time indoors, whether at home or at work.  That means, if your home is one of the many that holds poor indoor air, your health could be suffering.  In fact, that is one of the easiest ways to tell if you have poor indoor air quality.  Unfortunately, most people are not aware of how polluted the air actually is inside of their home, therefore are unable to make the connection between the air they are breathing, and the poor health symptoms that they are experiencing.

What should you look out for?

Have you ever had what felt like a long-lasting, lingering cold? Maybe you felt fine all day at work, but after being home for a couple of hours, cold symptoms pop up? If you have symptoms that mimic a cold, but only while you are home, it is very likely that you do, in fact, have poor indoor air quality in your home.  Some of the more minor symptoms that you should look out for include, but are not limited to: irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.  More serious concerns such as asthma, pneumonia, and humidifier fever can also occur after exposure to indoor pollutants.  Long-term exposure may result in respiratory diseases, heart disease, and even cancer.  As you can see, poor indoor air quality is a serious deal and should not be taken likely.  We try to do everything right: eat healthy, exercise, wear seat belts.  Only to be unknowingly exposed to pollutants in our own home that can cause serious and adverse health problems.

If you have experienced any of these symptoms, be sure to talk to your physician.

For more information about indoor air quality, Anchor, your Douglasville Heating Company, or to schedule a visit – please give us a call at 770-942-2873 or contact us on the web: www.anchorac.com.  You can also join our online community on Facebook where we offer tips on topics like indoor air quality and heating safety and even giveaway fun prizes.