Asthma and Allergies
If you don’t suffer from asthma or allergies, it’s likely that someone close to you does.
Twenty million Americans — one in every 15 — suffer from asthma (source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America). And resulting allergic diseases affect as many as 40 to 50 million Americans.
While these statistics are staggering, they are not entirely surprising: Consider that, according to studies by the EPA, “Air quality inside homes is a minimum five times worse than the air outside — and North Americans spend an average of 90% of their time indoors.” Poor air quality is a direct link to respiratory and other health-related issues.
How We Got Here
The energy crisis of the 1970s called for new building codes that allowed for decreased air movement per person, per household — changing from 15 cubic feet to 3 cubic feet.
The end result was a more energy and cost efficient home. Today we realize that these tighter building practices have left us with a polluted, toxic indoor living environment, often referred to as “Sick Home Syndrome“.
We add to that toxicity every day: Showering, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and vacuuming; using hairspray, nail polish, paint; and even petting the family dog. Not to mention all of the outdoor pollens and allergens that we bring indoors on our shoes and clothing. Over time these allergens, pollutants and toxins accumulate within our homes to very unhealthy concentration levels – it all leads to a more polluted indoor environment, as these toxins are released into the home environment with no means for escape.
Ho
w Poor Air Quality Is Affecting Our Health
Recent data shows a dramatic increase in allergies and asthma “up 700% in the past 15 years”.
(source: Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor Air Quality Scientific Findings Resource Bank, 2009)
The list of triggers and related ailments is exhaustive:
Leaky faucets can cause mold growth; as the mold releases its tiny spores into the air, asthma episodes ensure in people who are allergic to mold.
Exposure to dust mites — tiny insects that are invisible to the naked eye, yet are present in all homes, can trigger asthma in young children who have not previously exhibited asthma symptoms.
Coughing, wheezing, tightening of the chest — all of these are symptoms of allergic asthma.
According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, a nationwide survey found that more than half (54.6%) of all U.S. citizens tested positive to one or more allergens — and more than 50% of homes had at least six detectable allergens present.
There are 1,000 sub species of indoor allergens. Carpets, clothing, curtains, bedding and other upholstered items are the main breeding ground.
Environmental Protection Agency
Allergic reactions can be triggered by dust mites, mold, animal dander, pollen, drugs and chemical sensitivities.
Environmental Protection Agency
What We Can Do
Experts agree that avoidance is always the best treatment for allergies.
And while there are many easy and effective cleaning methods that can significantly decrease allergens within the home, none of these completely eliminates the problems.
It has been documented, however, that controlling the air quality and climate of the home can offer tremendous health benefits. Studies indicate that home intervention, in the form of a ventilation system, as a preventative approach to asthma and allergy symptoms is much more cost effective than waiting for the symptoms to arrive and then treating them accordingly with over the counter remedies such as antihistamines and allergy medications.
People with asthma or allergic rhinitis due to dust mites, molds, or other indoor allergens can experience relief by taking simple measures:
- Keep the home cool (between 68 and 72 degrees F)
- Maintain a low humidity (between 40 and 50%)
- Provide good ventilation
“I was skeptical at first, but now it’s been over six months and my boys are doing better than ever! No allergies from the weather, no wheezing or coughing just two small boys full of energy and life. I’m thoroughly convinced that my boys’ lungs are not irritated by floating particles that would normally cause them to become sick and I owe that clean air to my EZ Breathe system!”
-M. Foster
Achieving A Healthy Balance In The Home
Searching for healthy indoor air solutions, experts provide the following input:
- humidifiers and dehumidifiers can be effective yet, unless disinfected daily, there is danger of molds growing in the collection chamber
- central air-conditioning and heating systems can be used and outfitted with electrostatic filters that catch smaller particles than regular filters — the downside is ozone production caused by the filter that can aggravate asthma
- air purifiers and filters do not address the critical problems related to moisture and dampness, which lead to mold and mildew
EZ Breathe is the ideal ventilation solution that rids the home of toxic air and replaces it with fresh, clean air up to 10 times each day.
It is the clear, proven solution that combats all contributing factors to indoor air pollution, and resulting health issues. Learn more about E·Z Breathe as an efficient, whole-house ventilation system.
