If you are anything like me you are always searching for all natural home remedies to keep yourself and your family healthy. I try at all costs to avoid medicines that have unknown risks and side effects. I believe that our dependency on medicine these days has weakened our immune systems and possibly caused worse problems. Now understand I am not swearing off all medicine I just think we should avoid it when possible. I was actually struck by an email I received in regards to onions and how they are able to absorb “germs” that are airborne. I plan to research this further for my next blog but for now this has led me to my topic at hand, which is the health benefits of healthy air in the home. With “going green” being all the rage these days shouldn’t we be “going green” with our health as well?
So armed with my iPad I set off on a personal quest to discover what I could about getting and staying healthy by promoting health in the home and not simply treat “symptoms” with medicine. Of course as you can imagine I found more than I bargained for and I could probably blog for years just on this topic alone. So to put off putting you to sleep I have decided to settle on the use of dehumidifiers in the home. Our homes are where our families spend most of their time so I’m betting most of us want the healthiest homes possible. I’m not sure if everyone knows that a minimum of 40% of the air we breathe in our homes comes from our basements and/or crawlspaces. I know I didn’t. Though I must say it is a surprising and scary fact. While many of us homeowners have rushed to make our homes as energy-efficient as possible with new insulation, new windows etc. we have unknowingly sealed in all in-house and below ground air contaminants, which find their way in through the basement and/or crawlspace.
One of the big dangers in the home that I discovered was moisture which comes from high humidity and this poses many threats to our families and homes. The American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest Health House lists the signs of high humidity as:
- condensation on windows
- wet stains on walls and ceilings
- moldy bathrooms
- musty smells
- allergic reactions
- can lead to damage of the house and it’s contents
- ongoing allergies
- promotion of mold and the proliferation of dust mites
They recommend a dehumidifier to help control the humidity. They also describe different types and their proper care. Wikipedia says that high humidity can even cause, “disruptive sleep and musty laundry, by not letting your clothes ever really dry fully.” The article goes on to say that, “higher humidity is also preferred by most pests, including clothes moths, fleas, cockroaches, wood lice and dust mites.” I don’t know about you but I sure don’t want any of these uninvited guests.
Allergy Consumer Review says that, “molds are fungi that require high humidity to feed and grow.” They educate consumers on which models for the whole house are best to look into. I have discovered through my research that the dangers from mold are the mycotoxins (toxic gases) that mold releases into the air that we breathe. WebMd draws attention to the fact that mold spores in the air can cause nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing and even skin irritation. The EPA says that, “mold can grow on virtually any organic substance, as long as moisture and oxygen are present.” They instruct that “mold can be controlled indoors by controlling moisture indoors.”
So what I have learned is that if you have leaky pipes then fix them, if your basement or crawlspace has water in it then call a professional to install a closed drainage system, make sure that bathrooms are vented properly, remove and replace any organic materials in your home and last but certainly not least control humidity/moisture in your home with a dehumidifier. I think all too often we are treating just the symptoms instead of the real causes for our health problems. Before running for that cough and cold medicine or stocking up on expensive allergy treatments a good idea may just be getting rid of the germs, mold and allergens by looking for a dehumidifier that reduces moisture and purifies the air swirling around your home.
As a side note I interestingly found out that dehumidifiers are recommended for combating arthritis pain and hearing instrument (cochlear implant equipment, ear monitors, noise maskers etc.) issues. Dr’s Hearing Care conveys that dehumidifiers can lead to fewer repairs, better sound quality, relief from itchy ears and longer battery life by removing moisture, drying earwax and killing germs on hearing instruments. This is not everyone’s everyday concerns but possibly points that some of you may want to research further.
I love to learn something new everyday; I hope I piqued your curiosity!
Coleition 