Aside from standard air quality tests, another way you can tell whether your home has poor air quality is by paying attention to your body and how you feel during the day. The most effective way to protect your body from pollutants is by noticing poor air quality symptoms sooner.
Here are four symptoms of poor indoor air quality:
- Difficulty breathing or coughing
- Sneezing or allergic reactions
- Dry skin
- Headaches or nausea
If you notice any of these symptoms when staying indoors, then there is a high likelihood that there are one or more sources of pollutants contributing to poor air quality in your home. Read on to learn more about these symptoms and their potential causes.
Difficulty Breathing or Coughing
One of the more obvious symptoms of poor air quality is coughing or difficulty breathing. As pollutants accumulate in your home, this is one of the noticeable health symptoms you will experience due to the high concentration of contaminants and particulate matter you breathe in. If left unaddressed, these symptoms can develop into respiratory problems, severe allergies, and infections later down the road.
If you or someone you know suffers from a respiratory condition, then difficulty breathing or coughing often are the first symptoms that appear when breathing in dirty air for prolonged periods. The best way to alleviate these symptoms and improve your indoor air quality is investing in an ActivePure Air Purifier to filter out pollutants, helping you breathe better.
Sneezing or Allergic Reactions
Are you sneezing or experiencing strong allergic reactions when staying indoors? Sneezing and allergic reactions are symptoms of poor air quality that are often dismissed due to how common they are during certain seasons.
Although seasonality might explain why you are sneezing or have strong allergies, these symptoms may result from breathing in dust, mold, and other pollutants. If you are unsure about the cause of your symptoms, then consider getting an air quality test to identify allergen sources.
Dry Skin
Pollutants like VOCs are damaging to your skin’s protective layer and can cause skin irritation and dry skin. Skin conditions like eczema are worsened when exposed to chemicals commonly associated with poor air quality. To maintain good skin health, it is important to filter out harmful chemicals in your home with an air purifier and ventilation.
Headaches or Nausea
Similar to sneezing or allergies, headaches and nausea are difficult to trace back to poor air quality because they are associated with many other health conditions such as dehydration. Nonetheless, breathing in high concentrations of chemical fumes or carbon monoxide can also cause these symptoms.
Using an air purifier and efficient ventilation practices (i.e. opening a window, etc.) when cooking or cleaning can help remove pollutants that cause headaches and nausea.