Many people who worry about air quality are thinking about the smog and polluted air they breathe when they’re outside in the Holly Springs, Georgia, area. But the reality is that indoor air is often unhealthier than outdoor air, so you’re breathing in a lot of contaminants every day. Doing so can cause serious health risks and issues, especially if you already suffer from breathing problems.
Respiratory Symptoms
The symptoms that people experience as a result of poor indoor air quality depend on the specific contaminant, as well as whether you have allergies. For example, people who don’t suffer from a strong allergy to pollen might not have the same experience as someone who tests positive for a pollen allergy. But the most common respiratory symptoms caused by poor indoor air quality include congestion, sore throat, and pain, discomfort, or burning sensation in the nose.
More serious respiratory symptoms include nosebleeds, wheezing, pain when you breathe, nasal inflammation, a cough that won’t go away, and a sore throat that makes it hard to eat or drink. If you have trouble breathing, it’s important to visit the doctor or go to the emergency room. Allergies can be serious, especially in those who suffer from asthma or other conditions that impact breathing.
Cold-Like Symptoms
In many cases, people suffering from allergies due to breathing unhealthy air will confuse their symptoms with those that come with a common cold. These could include coughing, watery or irritated eyes, sneezing, and tightness in the chest. But one quick way to tell if you’re struggling with allergies, instead of a cold, is if your symptoms disappear when you leave your home or office. A cold or bout of the flu will keep you feeling crummy no matter where you are. Many illnesses also come with body aches, which aren’t typically a side effect of allergies.
Severe Health Symptoms
While some of the symptoms caused by bad air quality are more bothersome than concerning, there are some that are cause for concern. These include eye infections or severe irritation, fevers, rashes, feeling lethargic, pain in your muscles, hearing loss, nausea, vomiting, or rapid heartbeat. Some people experience severe headaches and dizziness as symptoms as well. If you have any issues that make it difficult to go about your daily activities, such as work, school, hobbies, or exercise, it’s worth paying a visit to your physician to make sure everything is OK.
Other Problems
In addition to all of these health concerns that poor indoor air quality can cause, it can also lead to energy waste and increased heating and cooling costs. When the ducts within your HVAC system are clogged with dirt, pet hair, dander, pollen, dust, and other debris, the furnace or air conditioner has to work a lot harder to produce the same amount of warm or cool air. You’ll end up spending more on utility bills every month, while also wasting quite a bit of energy.
Solution
You don’t have to suffer in misery with these symptoms. If you’re experiencing them at home, bring in an HVAC expert to provide duct cleaning services. The process is simple, and you can breathe healthier air within a few hours. You may also notice a sudden decrease in the heating or cooling bills that month, especially if it’s been a while since you had them cleaned (or if you never have before). An air purifier can also make a big difference in cleaning the air you breathe.
If you’re suffering at work, it’s worth talking to your manager about other options. The company may pay to have the ducts cleaned out, which is the easiest solution. But if they don’t, and you have documented proof that your symptoms are caused by bad air and are worse when you’re at work, your supervisor may let you work a modified schedule or tackle more tasks from home.
Here in the Holly Springs, Georgia, area, our experienced team of indoor air quality experts at E. Smith offer duct cleaning and other services, so call us today at 678-369-8866.
Image provided by Bigstock