How (and why) To Improve Your Indoor Air Quality For Better Health
Take these steps to breathe easier this winter
As the cold weather descends on us in the northern hemisphere, it is time to take a good look at where we will be spending the majority of our time this winter - INSIDE. Few things affect our health and wellbeing more than our indoor air. But how of often do you stop and consider if your air is helping or harming you?
While everyone got a taste of nasty air in 2023 from the Canadian wildfires raging out of control and belching noxious smoke across the continent, we don’t usually SEE air quality issues. What’s more, our brains may send us a message like - hey what’s that new smell? - but otherwise we quickly adapt to whatever ambient conditions are around us while we focus on more urgent matters.
Improving indoor air quality can mean the difference between staying well and fighting off colds and flu with ease, or finding yourself low, depressed and frequently ill. Let’s take a look at how improving indoor air quality can lead to better health this winter.
Why worry about your indoor air quality?
This scenario happens all the time:
You: Doctor, I’m sick and really suffering.
Doctor: Based on your symptoms, here is a prescription. Follow the directions and use all the medicine. Come back in 7 days if you don’t see improvement.
But here’s what no one is talking about:
When our indoor air is polluted, our mental and physical health are compromised. It’s like this goldfish swimming in a dirty bowl. Except the go-to move on the goldfish is to clean the bowl, not prescribe medication. And yet Western medicine’s go-to move is medication.
Your indoor air quality is affecting you every single day, especially in the cold months where you spend more of your time in your home.
Poor indoor air quality is associated with everything from irritated throats and sinus infections, allergies, frequent seasonal illnesses, headaches and dry eyes all the way through serious issues like lung cancer, and even the ingestion of microplastics and other hazards.
The fall is the perfect time to spruce up your indoor space and give yourself a wellness boost in the process.
How to improve your indoor air quality in 6 simple steps
Clean the air
1. Remove sources of air contamination
First things first, for cleaner air in your home you need to get rid of things that are contributing to heavy indoor air pollution.
Start with:
Dusting more frequently
Washing carpets, and vacuuming more regularly
Reduce excess humidity that may contribute to mold
Don’t allow smoking inside your home
Clean kitchen and bathroom vents regularly and use them often to expel moisture laden air
Improving air quality goes a LONG way to solving health issues (Source: Sue Senger using Canva Pro)
