We often overlook the quality of the air we breathe indoors, yet it plays a critical role in our overall health. Poor indoor air quality can cause various health problems, whereas clean air can provide significant benefits that many people may be unaware of. From boosting your cognitive function to improving your sleep quality, breathing clean indoor air can transform your well-being.
At Bernard Heating & Cooling in Hudson, OH, we prioritize indoor air quality and help our customers with theirs. In this blog, we’ll look at ten surprising health benefits of maintaining a fresh and clean indoor environment.
1. Improved Respiratory Health
Improved lung health is one of the main advantages of maintaining clean interior air. Pollutants such as mold, dust, mildew, bug debris, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and pet dander can aggravate asthma and allergies by irritating the lungs. Sensitive people will benefit from the significant reduction in airborne irritants achieved by purchasing air purifiers with HEPA filters.
2. Higher Cognitive Function
The quality of the air inside has a big effect on higher cognitive function. Harvard University research, for example, showed that people who worked in places with better indoor air quality did 61% better on cognitive function tests than those who worked in offices with worse air quality.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air, as well as the presence of toxins, can all have an impact on how well the brain functions. Keeping the air flowing, using air purifiers, and reducing the use of products that emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can all contribute to a more conducive environment for clear thinking.
3. Reduced Fatigue
Research has shown that breathing clean indoor air significantly reduces fatigue. Poor air quality can lead to exhaustion and lethargy, which is often caused by the buildup of indoor pollutants that strain the body’s systems. For example, stale air with high carbon dioxide levels can lead to drowsiness and decreased alertness.
You can combat fatigue by increasing oxygen levels in your home with better ventilation and the use of air purifiers. Furthermore, regular cleaning reduces dust and allergens, resulting in a fresher environment. Air-purifying plants, such as spider plants or peace lilies, can help to improve air quality and create a refreshing environment.
4. Better Sleep Quality
Maintaining clean indoor air improves sleep quality. Poor air quality can cause a variety of sleep disturbances, such as snoring, allergies, and even asthma, all of which can impair your ability to sleep soundly. High humidity, for example, can promote mold growth, causing respiratory problems that interfere with nighttime breathing.
You can improve the comfort of your sleeping environment by ensuring proper ventilation and using dehumidifiers. Additionally, air purifiers help to filter out allergens such as dust mites, bug debris, and pet dander, which can cause nighttime allergies.
5. Strengthened Immune System
One of the most significant benefits of clean indoor air is that it boosts your immune system. Indoor air frequently contains allergens, pollutants, and pathogens, which can impair immune function and make you more susceptible to illnesses. For example, mold spores, dust, and pet dander can cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems, all which tax your immune system.
Using HEPA filters in air purifiers can significantly reduce the presence of these harmful particles. Maintaining optimal humidity levels—ideally between 30% to 50%—can also reduce mold growth and dust mite proliferation. Cleaning and vacuuming regularly with vacuum cleaners equipped with HEPA filters helps to reduce allergens.
6. Lower Stress Levels
Poor air quality can make the environment uncomfortable, causing stress and anxiety. High levels of indoor pollutants can cause headaches, fatigue, and irritability, making it difficult to focus or relax.
In contrast, a well-ventilated room with plenty of fresh air can promote a sense of calm and well-being. Incorporating air-purifying plants, such as snake plants or aloe vera, improves air quality and creates a relaxing atmosphere in your home.
7. Healthier Skin
Breathing clean indoor air also leads to healthier skin. Polluted indoor air can contain dust, mold, and chemicals that irritate the skin, causing dryness, breakouts, and exacerbating conditions like eczema. VOCs from cleaning products or furniture can cause inflammation and clogged pores, resulting in dull or unhealthy skin.
Improve indoor air quality through proper ventilation and reduce the use of harsh chemicals to keep your skin clear and hydrated. Using a humidifier can also help to prevent excessively dry air, which causes the skin to lose moisture and become flaky. Regular cleaning of surfaces, bedding, and even air vents reduce contact with dust and allergens that can cause skin irritation.
8. Longer Lifespan
By lowering exposure to harmful pollutants that stress the body over time, clean indoor air can help people live longer. Indoor pollutants like dust, mold, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from everyday household items can cause long-lasting breathing problems, heart problems, and a weaker immune system.
Adding plants that clean the air naturally, like peace lilies or bamboo palms, also helps eliminate harmful toxins. Keeping your home healthy is good for your body’s long-term health and lowers your risk of chronic diseases, so you live longer and healthier.
9. Boosted Productivity
One big benefit of keeping the air inside clean is that it makes you more productive. When the air has no allergens or pollutants, you can concentrate better and get more done. On the other hand, breathing in bad air can give you headaches, make you sleepy, or make it hard to focus and stay on task.
In a home office with good airflow and an air purifier, you’re less likely to get brain fog or feel tired because of too much carbon dioxide or dust. You can also improve the quality of the air around you by doing simple things like keeping your workspace clean and opening windows often to let fresh air in. This helps you keep up your energy throughout the day, which makes your work sessions more productive and focused.
10. Enhanced Taste and Smell Senses
The air you breathe directly affects how well you can taste and smell. Pollutants like smoke, cleaning product chemicals, or lingering cooking smells can make it harder to distinguish smells. For instance, strong artificial scents or smoke in the air inside can overpower your sense of smell, making it harder to pick up on subtle tastes and smells in food.
Adding more airflow and using air purifiers can clear the air of irritants that block these senses. If your kitchen has clean, fresh air, you can fully enjoy your food’s natural tastes and smells, like the strong smell of coffee or the fresh smell of herbs. Regularly airing out your home and cutting down on chemical pollutants can help your senses work better, improving your dining and sensory experiences.
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The value of breathing clean indoor air cannot be overstated. The benefits of breathing fresh air go far beyond mere comfort; they include improved respiratory function, sleep quality, and cognitive performance. You can create a healthier indoor environment by investing in air purification systems, maintaining your HVAC system regularly, and keeping allergens and pollutants out.
Ready to improve your indoor air quality? Contact Bernard Heating & Cooling and bring clean, fresh air into your Hudson home. We also offer air conditioning and heating repair, installation and maintenance, and water heater services.
