If the indoor air quality in your home is poor, your health can suffer. When you breathe, any contaminants present in the air enter your body, which can have a variety of negative health effects.
When you inhale, air travels down your trachea to your lungs through airways called the bronchi. The bronchi are divided into small tubes called bronchioles, which end in air sacs known as alveoli.
The alveoli are surrounded by small blood vessels called capillaries.
As the air you breathe goes from your trachea all the way to your capillaries, it transfers oxygen to your bloodstream. If the air contains any harmful substances, those substances also enter your bloodstream.
Dust, tobacco smoke, car emissions, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and various chemicals and gases can all negatively affect your health when inhaled. When these particles reach your alveoli, they can damage the alveoli wall. This may lead to health problems like lung disease, stroke, and heart attack.
Because the air you breathe has such a huge impact on your health, it’s important to make an effort to improve your home’s air quality. Measures you can take include avoiding items that release harsh chemicals into the air, using an exhaust fan or opening a window while you cook, adding a portable air cleaner to frequently trafficked rooms, and regularly dusting your home.
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