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RISING WOMEN EXPERT ADVICE...
Are our homes really a breeding ground for illness?
Most of us are aware of the implications certain flu strains like H1N1 have
on our health. But there are other factors to consider this time of year
that are an endless battle year round but go unnoticed mainly due to lack of
awareness.
Our homes may be one of the last places people look at when it comes to our
health. In the fall/winter, mold and dust mites are notorious for causing
many health related conditions, increasing problems for asthmatics and for
those whose who have an already weakened immune system. Molds, for example,
produce a variety of symptoms that you may not be able to pinpoint such as
heightened skin conditions in individuals with eczema/psoriasis, aching
chills or fever, frequent headaches, and extreme or unusual tiredness.
Because these symptoms resemble other health issues, we may not think it
might be a contributing factor.
Mold can be found in basements, wood floors, children’s stuffed toys,
pillows, rugs/under padding, drains, poorly ventilated bathrooms, household
plants and in the humidifier - the king of spreading mold throughout the
home! The stagnate water just sitting there after one day produces multiple
spores. A single mold spore can germinate and produce a fungal colony with
hundreds of thousands of spores in 4 to 9 days. Most allergenic molds will
release spores into the air during dry conditions usually below 70%
humidity. It doesn’t stop there; outdoor molds from autumn leaves and
decomposing plants intensify mold spore concentrations leading to increased
malaise. Adding to the complexity for respiratory sufferers, a high humidity
will cause dust mites to multiply as well. Dust mites fecal matter, called
frass, contains the saliva and digestive enzymes of the dust mite. The
enzyme and saliva combined in frass is a potent trigger to those with
allergenic tendencies, especially asthmatics. A single dust mite produces
approximately 20 waste droppings per day and feeds on dead skin cells
covered in yeast spores. Yuck!
To reduce your exposure, control the environment in which mold and dust
mites like to thrive. A general rule for indoor air quality (IAQ) is to
follow the 3 A’s: have Awareness of what might be causing a problem,
Avoidance by removing the source, and Action, remove the sources or add
devices to correct the problem. This can mean a simple change in how you
launder your bedding, routine humidifier inspections and changing the
humidity level in your home.
For more advice or to book an appointment to see if mold & dust is a
problem for you, contact Iris da Silva of Renewed Vitality Ltd. at
403.589.6295.
www.renewedvitality.ca
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