Poor indoor climate
Poor indoor air quality can affect your health
Poor indoor air quality can lead to headaches, irritated eyes, allergies, poor concentration and, in the worst case, more serious illnesses such as lung cancer and cardiovascular disease.
A healthy indoor climate is important for our health because we spend many hours in our homes. In fact, we typically spend up to 16 hours a day in our homes.
Indoor air quality problems are usually not caused by a single cause, but by a combination of conditions such as poor ventilation, high humidity, tobacco smoke, particles and the radioactive gas radon.
A poor indoor climate can cause discomfort and illnesses such as:
- Irritation in eyes, nose and throat
- Rashes, redness and itching of the skin
- Headaches and fatigue
- Nausea and dizziness
- Lung cancer and cardiovascular disease
How your indoor climate affects your health
There are many things we can do in our homes that are bad for the indoor environment. When we light candles, the stove, smoke cigarettes or cook, we pollute the air with particles. The particles vary in size and chemical composition, and the largest are filtered out in the nasal hairs and throat, while the smallest can travel deep into the respiratory tract and end up in the bloodstream, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
At the same time, particles can also lead to respiratory diseases, and according to the Danish Health Authority, indoor air pollution costs 2 million healthy life years annually in the EU, with ⅔ of those lost life years being due to particle pollution. And these aren't the only health problems indoor air pollution can cause.
One in 5 Danes suffers from allergies or asthma, and researchers believe that conditions in the indoor environment play a role in this high number. There is a link between moisture damage in the home and symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and asthma. Dust mites, moulds and other microorganisms thrive in damp environments, and moulds are particularly problematic for people who are already predisposed to allergies - they are the ones most likely to react with symptoms such as red eyes, coughing and a runny nose.
The radioactive gas radon is another major indoor climate culprit that can eventually lead to lung cancer if you are exposed to excessive amounts over time.
Tips and tricks
How to solve problems with poor indoor climate
It is very difficult to determine that symptoms such as headaches and irritated eyes are caused by the indoor environment, as this cannot be determined by a blood test or a visit to the doctor.
But you can try to improve your indoor climate yourself and see if it makes a difference:
- Ventilate 2-3 times a day for 5-10 minutes: Ventilation solves many indoor climate problems and is an effective way to reduce moisture and particles.
- Frequent cleaning: Dust mites are a major allergy culprit and frequent cleaning reduces the amount of unhealthy particles in the air.
- Don't dry clothes indoors: A wash contains 2-3 litres of water, which evaporates directly into your living room. This increases the humidity in the air and gives mould fungi the perfect conditions to grow.
- Air out when cooking: Baconos and cooking water from potatoes are moisture culprits and contribute unhealthy particles to the air.
- Avoid candles: Researchers believe that candles are almost comparable to road rage. Instead, use electric candles or limit their use.
Consider investing in a ventilation solution
To get rid of particles and moisture in your home, a ventilation system can be the solution. DUKA One is a ventilation solution that ventilates the room 24 hours a day. For 70 seconds, the system sucks out stale and moist air, storing heat in the unit's ceramic core. After 70 seconds, the system's motor reverses and blows in fresh air, which is heated by the ceramic core. This constantly changes the air, ventilating away particles and moisture and saving on heating bills as the heat in the home is recycled. DUKA One is mounted directly in the outer wall and can be installed wherever there is a need for ventilation.
