January is one of the most looked forward to months, perhaps simply because it is the start of the year. Yet it has some repercussions on our health. January is a time when it can be quite cold, forcing many people in temperate countries to spend much more time indoors than outdoors. Contrary to popular belief, staying indoors may be more harmful to your health than going out. This is because the air indoors may actually be more polluted than what is out there.
How can this happen? In the winter, houses need to be warm and insulated. Windows are most often closed to keep the cold out and the heat in. As a result, there is usually poor ventilation within. The air is not naturally replenished inside. Molds can be a complication as well due to the dampness in the air. To make matters worse, if there is a smoker in the family and he smokes within the house, the air is definitely more polluted.
As such, you should not take the matter of indoor health care lightly. At this time of the year when many people spend a lot of time inside the house, you should take care to ensure that the conditions inside the house contribute to your health and not the contrary. First thing you must consider are activities that pollute the air. Smoking was already mentioned. Avoid smoking within enclosed premises.
Using air fresheners and deodorizers may seem like a good idea but if not used properly, you may contribute to adding allergens inside the house. If you do need to use such products, make sure that there is at least a short period of time wherein you can get fresh air inside.
Originally posted on June 29, 2010 @ 6:42 pm