How to Prevent Respiratory Problems in Winter

The cold, dry winter air brings with it many respiratory problems. It causes itchy throats, a high breathing rate, and sometimes even leads to breathlessness. The situation is even worse for people suffering from breathing conditions like asthma.

Heavy clothing and masks can help to combat the problem outdoors, but the situation indoors is different. This is because the indoor environment has more allergens and pollutants than the outdoors. Obviously, no one wants to wear a mask indoors.

And considering the fact that an average  American spends 93% of their time indoors , you need some ways to maintain optimal air quality. The following are some things that can help.

Avoid Exposure to Indoor Pollutants

Dust and bacteria infestation indoors are the biggest risk during winters. Almost 8% of lung cancer cases in the world are caused due to pollutants present in the indoor air. The cold winter air causes dryness in the nasal cavity, making you vulnerable to these elements.

Use a high-power vacuum and a microfiber towel to clean dust from your home. You can also consider replacing your sheets with hypoallergenic or anti-dust sheets. And finally, avoid using the heat on your HVAC system, if possible.

The ducts that these indoor central and space heaters use is often the hosting place for bacteria infestation. Any moisture in these ducts can also lead to mold. And if you haven't cleaned them for a while or a duct is damaged, dust particles may get mixed with the hot air passing through them. Thus, this creates a higher risk for infection and pollution from pollen, making asthma symptoms worse.

Instead of duct heaters, use Envi flat panel wall heaters. This smart, wall mounted electric heater fits on the walls of your home and does not have any risk of bringing in dust or pollen. Their compact size also makes them super easy to clean with just a vacuum or compressed air.

However, in case you have no option other than HVAC, make sure to get it cleaned and sanitized regularly. You can also use a HEPA filter to reduce allergens in your home.

Maintain Air Quality

The concentration of pollutants in the air is 2-5 times higher indoors compared to the outdoors. Every chemical product that you use inside your home makes it more hazardous for your health. Your detergents, fabric softeners, and even the cleaning solution you use can release harmful fumes that decrease the indoor air quality.

Natural substances, such as radonc that can enter your house through cracks or openings also decrease air quality. The gas occurs in almost every type of soil and can spread throughout your whole home. It is colorless, odorless, radioactive, and poses a high risk to the respiratory system.

The gas emitted while cooking and carbon monoxide generated from smoke also have a similar lung damaging effect. And if you have a pet, there are always stray hairs that you have to deal with.

The issue about these factors is that you cannot avoid all of them. Your home needs ventilation which means an inlet and outlet for air. These inlets and outlets can also become an entry point for dust and pollutants.

The solution here is to use an air purifier. This device comes with a filter that sucks contaminated air and filters out impurities from it. Just make sure to use an updated model and change its filter regularly.

Adding some indoor plants is also a big help, as long as you don't overwater them. It is also recommended to get your home tested for radon levels.

Maintain Moisturization and Temperature

Heaters are essential to keep you warm and cozy during winters. However, most of them can dry the moisture in the air. This directly affects the mucus layer that prevents impurities from entering your body. Additionally, breathing dry air can cause irritation in the respiratory canals and affect the lungs. This can lead to asthma attacks, breathlessness, and more.

Other than respiration, dry indoor air can also affect your eyes and skin. It reduces the water content in the eye, making them dry, irritable and thus leading to redness and pain. Similarly, dried air will dehydrate your skin, leaving it dry, cracked, and rough. Prolonged exposure can also lead to other skin problems, causing discoloration of skin, itchiness, and burning sensation.

The simplest way to deal with the decreasing humidity is to use a humidifier. This device has a humidity sensor that detects the water content of the air and adds moisture when the humidity levels drop. In short, it ensures that the indoor air doesn't get dry. Using the Envi wall mounted electric heater can also help. These heaters use low wattage and a low heater core temperature. Thus, the evaporation rate of moisture content in the air is much lower than any standard space heater.

Conclusion

Adults and children who suffer from pneumonia, suffer due to indoor air pollution. This is a serious problem that gets worse during winter as the cold winter air prevents your mucus from filtering pollutants.

Therefore, it is essential that you maintain a high standard of cleanliness during winters and eliminate dust and mold. You should always consider switching to the smart Envi wall mounted electric panel heater. The heater uses state-of-the-art technology to provide space heating without lowering the moisture level.

Combined with the few measures here, the Envi indoor space heaters can ensure a healthy indoor environment and prevent you from experiencing not just respiratory issues, but also skin and eye problems occurring during winters.