Here's How Indoor Air Quality Can Affect Mental Health - Sally W.
Your home and work environments can have an impact on your mental health. According to a research, children who grew up constantly exposed to high levels of pollution are more at risk of developing depression by the time they reach 18. Moreover, outdoor and indoor air pollution can contribute to a host of health problems ranging from asthma to respiratory infections, and it may even exacerbate existing mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. For overall wellbeing and happiness, it's important to create a healthy living environment and make sure that the air we breathe is as clean and pure as it can be. Here's how indoor air can affect mental health, and what we can do to improve our home or workplace's air quality.
It can affect happiness
Roughly one-third of the world's population has to contend with dangerous levels of indoor air pollution, which is caused by factors such as cooking with wood-burning stoves, cigarette smoke, fumes from toxic cleaning solutions, and mold. Constant exposure from these pollutants not only causes eye irritation, respiratory problems and cancer, but research has shown that it also has an effect on our emotional well-being. Data from the study shows that there is a strong correlation between pollution and happiness levels, and that those who live in highly polluted areas are less happy than those who live in areas with clean air.
To clean indoor air, you can use an air purifier to get rid of harmful particulates and toxins. Homeowners and office workers may also open their windows regularly to let some fresh air in. If airing out the home becomes a problem in winter, combat the dry air outside by using a whole house humidifier to reduce the likelihood of developing common winter health conditions such as dry skin, scratchy throats, or allergy symptoms. These systems can be attached to your ductwork and can work alongside a furnace, allowing you to humidify your home without sacrificing warmth.
It may trigger anxiety symptoms
A Harvard study has shown that constant exposure to indoor and outdoor pollution can trigger symptoms of anxiety, which include a tendency to worry, fearfulness, and avoidance. Having anxiety can affect everything from school and work performance to making decisions. Along with counseling and medication, it's important to keep the air in the home and work environment as clean as possible to reduce anxiety symptoms. One of the most natural ways to do this is by having a few indoor plants that can clear the air of toxins and particulates. Some of the best air purifying plants include rubber plants, Boston fern, peace lily, devil's ivy, snake plant, chrysanthemum, and English ivy.
Other ways to purify indoor air
Apart from using air purifiers and having potted plants inside the home, there are other ways to clean one's indoor air without breaking the bank. For instance, one can use a ceiling or stand fan to keep the air circulating in rooms and keep stale air out. Another way to reduce toxins in the air is by using natural cleaning ingredients, such as baking soda, lemon juice and vinegar to clean surfaces. These ingredients can clean effectively without giving off harmful fumes the way ammonia or other commercially-available cleaners can.
Keeping one's living environment in optimum condition can help to promote better mental health. Keep your indoor air clean and pure to stay well and have a better quality of life.
It can affect happiness
Roughly one-third of the world's population has to contend with dangerous levels of indoor air pollution, which is caused by factors such as cooking with wood-burning stoves, cigarette smoke, fumes from toxic cleaning solutions, and mold. Constant exposure from these pollutants not only causes eye irritation, respiratory problems and cancer, but research has shown that it also has an effect on our emotional well-being. Data from the study shows that there is a strong correlation between pollution and happiness levels, and that those who live in highly polluted areas are less happy than those who live in areas with clean air.
To clean indoor air, you can use an air purifier to get rid of harmful particulates and toxins. Homeowners and office workers may also open their windows regularly to let some fresh air in. If airing out the home becomes a problem in winter, combat the dry air outside by using a whole house humidifier to reduce the likelihood of developing common winter health conditions such as dry skin, scratchy throats, or allergy symptoms. These systems can be attached to your ductwork and can work alongside a furnace, allowing you to humidify your home without sacrificing warmth.
It may trigger anxiety symptoms
A Harvard study has shown that constant exposure to indoor and outdoor pollution can trigger symptoms of anxiety, which include a tendency to worry, fearfulness, and avoidance. Having anxiety can affect everything from school and work performance to making decisions. Along with counseling and medication, it's important to keep the air in the home and work environment as clean as possible to reduce anxiety symptoms. One of the most natural ways to do this is by having a few indoor plants that can clear the air of toxins and particulates. Some of the best air purifying plants include rubber plants, Boston fern, peace lily, devil's ivy, snake plant, chrysanthemum, and English ivy.
Other ways to purify indoor air
Apart from using air purifiers and having potted plants inside the home, there are other ways to clean one's indoor air without breaking the bank. For instance, one can use a ceiling or stand fan to keep the air circulating in rooms and keep stale air out. Another way to reduce toxins in the air is by using natural cleaning ingredients, such as baking soda, lemon juice and vinegar to clean surfaces. These ingredients can clean effectively without giving off harmful fumes the way ammonia or other commercially-available cleaners can.
Keeping one's living environment in optimum condition can help to promote better mental health. Keep your indoor air clean and pure to stay well and have a better quality of life.
