What In Your Household May Be Aggravating Respiratory Issues?
There are many things to make us unwell out there in the world, so we don’t expect them to affect us from our own household unless a child brings home a flu from school. It might not even register at first, especially if you’ve been there a long time, but when breathing feels tight, or you’re waking up with a scratchy throat more often than not, it makes sense to start wondering if something around you is contributing to your poorly feeling.
You don’t have to be dealing with serious conditions for that sense of pressure or dryness to be noticeable either, because mild sensitivities can flare up if the air quality isn’t where it should be. There are some obvious triggers like cigarette smoke or visible mould which are easier to spot, but plenty of other influences tend to settle in quietly and go ignored for longer than they should.
In this post, we’ll discuss the measures that may be harming or aggravating your respiratory system, which can be even worse if you have certain conditions to think of.
Soft Furnishings That Hold Onto More Than Comfort
A dusty smell in an old sofa or the thick, slightly musty weight of heavy curtains and carpet can sometimes be more than just age, even if we tend to brush it off as that. Anyone that has had the misfortune of open-palm hitting a bus seat knows just how much nastiness can be collected by fabric, including what’s floating in the air, especially if windows stay closed and there isn’t much movement in the space. More than that, it clings to particles from outside, holds onto pet dander, and never really gives it back unless you go out of your way to clean it properly.
A fresh-looking carpet can easily hold layers of trapped debris that a standard vacuum doesn’t quite reach unless you deep clean it. Over time, it all adds up. You might not see it, but your lungs can still feel it. If symptoms ease up when you’re spending time somewhere else, this could be one of the causes.
Air Circulation That Isn’t Doing Its Job Properly
Ventilation doesn’t get the attention it probably deserves, mostly because it tends to be invisible. It’s not something you notice until the air starts feeling heavy, or rooms feel stuffy no matter how often the windows are open, such as in the summertime. If stale air is just sitting in place, it’s easier for irritants to hang around and you may feel somewhat down when in this space. Such irritants can easily include like cleaning product residue, cooking fumes, and even the off-gassing from newer furniture or paints.
From there, there’s the actual structure of your home to think about. Some properties just don’t move air particularly well because of how they’re designed, or some do, but rely on ducted systems that haven’t been cleaned in years. If dust and debris are being circulated without you realising, that’s where air duct cleaning comes into play. Having that done professionally can reduce the spread of particles you’re otherwise just breathing in on repeat, especially in homes that rely on heating or cooling systems al through the year.
Moisture That Never Fully Clears
Even when there’s no visible damp, moisture can cause issues, but luckily you can smell it or see it quite easily. The most common place this occurs will be bathrooms that stay humid long after a shower, or kitchens where steam has nowhere to go, as they’re both dream areas for mould in corners.
It might not look dramatic, but even a small patch tucked behind furniture or above eye level can release spores that float around and get inhaled, and that’s terrible for your respiratory system. Having this removed and having extraction fans put in or dehumidifiers in the area can be worthwhile.
Pets That Shed More Than Fur
Pets are often part of the family, and there’s usually no question of them staying. But they do add something extra to the indoor environment, especially if they’re inside full-time, even if they’re pretty clean, such as cats. Fur is one thing, but it’s the tiny skin particles they shed, known as dander, that can really cling to surfaces and float through the air. Even if you’re not allergic, there’s still the chance that buildup over time might cause discomfort.
This gets more noticeable when pets use the same bedding or furniture as their humans, which is why that’s generally warned against. Once that dander settles into cushions or along the edges of rooms, it tends to stay there. Regular brushing outside can help to reduce it a little, but if the household feels harder to breathe in after a long period with windows shut, this could be something to keep an eye on and vacuum more deeply, even having carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned to fix it.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily avoid aggravating respiratory issues in your household.
