Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to how clean the air is inside a building, such as your home or office. If your Lincolnshire, IL home has low IAQ, you’re at risk for a variety of ailments. Let’s take a look at three possible consequences of poor IAQ.
1. Respiratory Problems
If the air in your home has low IAQ, then you’re at risk for respiratory illnesses. The United States Environmental Protection Agency reports that Americans spend 90% of their time indoors. And some pollutants can rise two to five times higher indoors than outdoors.
Unclean indoor air can worsen conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Even if you’ve never had these issues, you can experience respiratory problems. For example, chronic coughing, throat irritation and breathing problems can occur.
2. Heart Problems
Fine particles like dust, dirt, soot, smoke, pollen and spores can pollute indoor air. These particles are so small that they can enter your bloodstream. If that happens, the particles can cause inflammation in blood vessels, elevate blood pressure and contribute to artery plaque buildup.
This can increase your risk of developing heart problems. If you already have a heart condition, your risk of heart attack and stroke can increase. This is why your HVAC system needs a good filter that helps reduce the number of pollutants and allergens in the air.
3. Weak Immune System
Your immune system is your first line of defense against illness. Anything that weakens your immune system puts your body at risk. Therefore, prolonged exposure to unhealthy indoor air can impair your immune system.
For example, indoor air pollution can cause chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation reduces the effectiveness of your immune system. As a result, you’re more likely to experience frequent or severe illnesses.
Poor IAQ in your Lincolnshire, IL home can cause more harm than you realize. The best way to avoid any negative consequences is to improve your IAQ. Call us at Martin Enterprises Heating and Air Conditioning when you’re ready to improve your indoor air quality.
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