Is Your Air Filter Making You Sick?

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In a fast-paced world, sometimes the best thing you can do is to breathe.

We go to great lengths to make sure our homes remain a germ-free, healthy environment for us, our plants, and our family. However, have you ever considered the dangers of indoor air? It turns out the air we breathe in our homes isn’t exactly healthy. Is yours making you sick?

How Air Filters Can Make You Sick

Every HVAC system uses air filters, and ideally, you replace these filters once a month. Believe it or not, indoor air pollution can be as high as five times worse than outdoor pollution. The air filter is there to protect you from these pollutants. However, when people don’t change them regularly or monitor their state, these pollutants find their way into our homes and result in a myriad of respiratory health conditions.

One of the most popular ones is sometimes called “air conditioning sickness.” When we run our air conditioner, we create a perfect environment for cold-causing viruses to live, since most of them thrive in low-temperature, low-humidity environments.

Not to mention, without protection against allergens, it’s easy for those to result in symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, and even asthma.

What Can You Do?

For those who struggle with asthma, monitoring the indoor air quality is a must. Making sure you’re frequently checking your air filters is your first line of defense. Additionally, you can:

Maintain your home’s humidity below 50 percent
Stay away from humidifiers
Vacuum regularly with a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter
Keep humid areas clean to prevent mold buildup
Groom pets outside and wash them regularly
Service your A/C unit regularly

A Note from GR8NESS

Changing your air filters is not only needed for caring for your respiratory health, but it’s also a must-do to keep your unit running smoothly. When your air filters are damp or dirty, your unit has to do double the work to keep your home cool.

Make sure your air filters are doing what they’re supposed to do – protect your indoor air from pollutants. If you must, consider looking into an air purifier to help make sure all those nasty bacteria stay out of your home.

Geraldine is a GR8NESS Contributing Editor who writes about self care, clean makeup and beauty, mental health, and relationships – as well as natural remedies and fitness. She’s a coffee enthusiast with Venezuelan roots, a former ballerina, and the sunscreen patrol. Most of the time, you can find her working on her skincare routine or trying a new dance workout.

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