It’s fairly well-known by now that indoor air pollution poses a significant risk to our collective well-being. The Environmental Protection Agency has found that indoor air pollutants may have an even bigger effect on our overall health than pollution outdoors. And while poor air quality is a major threat to all homeowners, it can be particularly hazardous for those in certain groups. This includes people with allergies, asthma, and other respiratory issues, children and the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and one more subset that we too often don’t consider: pregnant women.
How can indoor air pollution affect your pregnancy exactly? While research is still ongoing, the EPA and other reliable sources have begun to establish links between pregnancy problems and contaminants that may be present in your household’s air right now. Keep reading for what you need to know, and remember that for all your home comfort needs, you can trust our indoor air quality experts at Premier Comfort Systems.
Ways Indoor Air Pollutants May Affect Pregnancy
The average person spends 90% of their time indoors. This percentage may increase for pregnant women, who increasingly need to stay off their feet and remain sedentary as they edge closer to their birth date. Unfortunately, by staying cooped up inside all the time, pregnant women may be inadvertently exposing themselves to a significant amount of allergens, contaminants, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that are frequently present in our indoor air. Indoor air pollution has already been linked to coughing, skin irritation, itchy/watery eyes, nausea, headaches, confusion, joint pain and even certain cancers. These conditions are not preferable for anybody, but for pregnant women in particular, they can be incredibly dangerous. And this holds even truer for expectant mothers with preexisting conditions, who may have already been dealing with a weakened immune system before their pregnancy started.
Indoor air pollution has been linked to the following pregnancy problems:
- Lower Birth Weights
- Preterm Births
- Increased Asthma Symptoms
- Fertility Challenges
- Other Health Issues (Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Etc.)
Protect Yourself & Your Family, with Premier Indoor Comfort Systems
American homes are increasingly poorly ventilated, and with dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, bacteria, viruses, and various toxic gasses more prevalent in the world we live in than ever, it is not uncommon for people to end up pumping polluted air around their house every day. The presence of these pollutants intensifies when your heating or cooling system is especially old, and has not been regularly cleaned and maintained.
Fortunately, there is a solution to improve the flow of clean air in your house and ensure your whole family can breathe easier and feel better—just call Premier Indoor Comfort Systems! Our indoor air quality team can provide you with a full range of IAQ equipment, including air cleaners, filters, and purifiers. We also offer humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and UV germicidal lights. Our IAQ options are designed to improve your home’s ventilation, which is why we service exhaust fans and energy recovery ventilators and install ventilation control systems. Plus, with duct cleaning, repair, and testing, we’ll help your HVAC system stay as pollutant-free as possible. If you or someone else in your house is pregnant, or you simply want to take the next step to improving your general health and well-being, make sure to call Premier Indoor Comfort Systems for indoor air quality upgrades today.
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