Page 28 - The Villager June 2021

Health & Wellness

look After

the Air thAt

you breAthe

BY JUSTINE

iSTOCk-1239847153

Improving the air quality number of factors. Let’s take a look at to lower both your blood pressure and
in your home not only some of the culprits. your heart rate. It also helps to strengthen
your immune system, sharpen the mind
enhances your well- LACK OF ADEQUATE VENTILATION and improve your overall well-being.
being, but for the WFH- As we head into the cold months of Getting back to the heating appliances
ers [work-from-home- winter, inviting air in from the outdoors – remember that anything that burns
ers], it improves your may well be something you want to will deplete the oxygen in the air, so
avoid. However, if your home is modern
whether it’s a cosy fireplace, a gas heater,
productivity as well. and exceptionally ‘green’, you may have or for that matter, a collection of candles
all the necessary insulation to prevent to set the mood in the evening, if you’re
eing restricted to working heat loss and drafts, double glazing to not allowing enough fresh air into your
entirely from home has its combat noise pollution and a myriad space, you’ll start to feel sluggish and ill.
Bbenefits and disadvantages. gas appliances – stoves, heaters etc – In addition to the depletion of the
While many will welcome the time sucking up lots of oxygen, which is why oxygen in the air, there are some pretty
saved by not having to sit for endless ensuring that there’s enough fresh air in mean gases that will cruise in to fill that
hours in traffic jams, and appreciate your indoor air space is essential. space – such as carbon dioxide (CO₂),
the opportunity to monitor their kids’ Taking a breather out in the garden carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen
online lessons, the downside is that, once or twice a day and then going back dioxide (NO₂). Any unvented heating
being in the same space day in and to a stuffy office isn’t enough to keep appliance where the air is not channelled
day out can be a negative when there’s your productivity at its optimum level – out through a chimney will generate
something toxic in the environment especially if you’re breathing in the same CO₂ into the indoor environment when
– be it a relationship, or something air all day long. there’s complete combustion of carbon-
causing one to underperform, such as Breathing in fresh air increases the based fuels. However, if combustion is
poor air quality. amount of oxygen available to your body. incomplete, CO will be produced.
Poor air quality can be caused by a More oxygen in your bloodstream helps Whilst high concentrations of CO₂

26 • Issue 6 2021 • The Villager