Older adults benefit from a safe and healthy home, but you may not consider at first the value of air quality in your house. Aging puts you at greater risk of respiratory, cardiovascular, and other health challenges caused by indoor air pollution, especially if you spend more time indoors.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are simple ways to assess the air quality of your home so that you can address these issues. Improving air quality can be as easy as regular maintenance, but you can also take bigger measures, like home modification. Here’s what you need to know to get started.
How Air Quality Impacts Your Respiratory Health
The air inside your home may be full of contaminants due to larger issues with pollution. There are several ways pollution adversely impacts health, including:
- Eyes, nose, and throat irritation beyond allergies;
- Respiratory challenges that impair your ability to breathe;
- Worsening respiratory conditions, such as asthma;
- Increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to the stress on your lungs from breathing pollutants;
- Compromised immunity caused by air pollutants accumulating in the lungs.
Unchecked, this can lead to serious health problems, especially for older adults. That's because aging lungs have less air capacity. Air sacs in the lungs can become baggy, the diaphragm can weaken, and the ribcage shape may change. All these affect your ability to breathe.
Over time, airway nerves may become less sensitive to foreign particles, which prevents the need to cough and remove them. Aging also weakens the immune system, making people more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses. Air pollution intensifies these problems.
The best way to overcome these challenges is to take a proactive stance to improve your indoor air quality.
Determining the Air Quality of Your Home
Before taking measures to improve air quality, you must understand the problems inside your home. According to the EPA, here are the most common causes of indoor air pollution:
- Combustible sources like oil, gas, or coal;
- Tobacco products;
- Building materials such as paint or spackle;
- Damp carpeting, cabinetry, or furniture;
- Personal care and cleaning products;
- Outdoor sources, like radon or pesticides.
Another common challenge is homes that have poor ventilation. Without sufficient airflow, polluted air becomes trapped in your home. You can create natural ventilation, like opening doors and windows, as well as use mechanical ventilation systems that may require home modification. Air handling systems, for example, remove polluted air while pulling in fresh air.
How can you measure your home’s indoor air pollution so you know what steps to take to remedy the issue? Some common signs are noticeable, including:
- Smells such as lingering odors, musty smells, and cooking fumes;
- Respiratory problems like coughing, wheezing, or increasing allergies;
- Mold or mildew that you can see or smell;
- Excessive dust accumulation;
- Feeling sick, lightheaded, or tired when you come indoors.
For issues that aren’t visible, install an air quality monitor, such as a smoke detector, VOC detector, or carbon monoxide detector. These help you discover problems you can't see to keep you safe.
Improving Air Quality in Your Home
Basic ways to keep the air in your home fresh include regularly vacuuming, dusting, and opening windows. You can also buy plants to help filter the air. Better yet, you can invest in an air purifier that suits your budget. To discover which is best for your home, browse a variety of air filters and search for one that suits your needs. A high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter will grab the finest particles, including viruses and bacteria. Activated carbon filters eliminate unwanted odors. Ionizers use electricity to catch pollutants.
Air purifiers all have a clean air delivery rate (CADR) to help tell you what size room the filter can accommodate. When deciding on a purchase, take notice of noise levels. Some air purifiers are whisper-silent but may cost more, or you may prefer one that sounds like a white noise machine. For cost and efficiency, buy an energy-efficient air purifier that meets your needs and budget.
Further, there are some easy home modifications you can make if you have asthma or allergies. In addition to an air purifier, you can purchase a dehumidifier to help reduce the risk of mold and mildew. Hire a handyman, such as HandyPro, to fix leaks and cracks in doors, windows, and other areas. These services can also help maintain your heating, air conditioning, ventilation system, and ductwork — all of which are critical for keeping your air healthy and clean.
If you own or want to invest in an air conditioning system, note that it greatly impacts air quality. Window and portable air conditioning are convenient and portable but often build up a lot of dust. Additionally, a window AC is vulnerable to gaps that let in air and moisture.
Central air conditioning systems are costly and require significant home modifications if you don’t already have one. However, you can also purchase ductless air conditioners, which don’t require major renovations, though you’ll need to hire a handyman service to install this system.
Other options include evaporative coolers, which add moisture and should be limited to dry climates, and heat pumps. They may be costly to install but they can replace indoor heating and cooling systems.
As an older adult, you must understand how air pollution can harm your health. Determine the quality of your air, then take simple measures to address it. By clearing the air, you create a safer, healthier home.
