Damp & Health Issues
You would be surprised just how many health issues can be a cause of poorly ventilated properties. Some of the health issues referred to below may just be aggravated by poorly ventilated air, but, poorly ventilated air could sometimes be the cause.
Can Damp & Mould Be A Serious Problem To My Health?
Yes, if you have damp and mould you’re more likely to have respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma. Damp and mould can also affect the immune system.
Some people are more sensitive than others, including:
- babies and children
- elderly people
- those with existing skin problems, such as eczema
- those with respiratory problems, such as allergies and asthma
- those with a weakened immune system
These people should stay away from damp and mould.
How does it affect your health?
Moulds produce allergens (substances that can cause an allergic reaction), irritants and, sometimes, toxic substances. Inhaling or touching mould spores may cause an allergic reaction, such as sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes and skin rash. Moulds can also cause asthma attacks.
If you would like free advice then request a call back.
Asthma & allergies
There are over 5 million asthma sufferers in the UK! More people die of asthma than some cancers.
80% of asthma attacks are caused by dust mites in our homes. You are likely to be sleeping in your bed with thousands of dust mites every night! Not a nice thought. DampAir can control the level of dust mites in your home to a normal level, meaning that its residents are not at risk to allergies and asthma.
Asthma affects the small tubes carrying air to and from your lungs. Those small tubes, if suffering from asthma can tighten when an irritant in the air is breathed in. This can lead to asthma attacks, difficulty breathing and sometimes death.
If you are not sure what the asthma symptoms are they include tightness in the chest, difficulty catching your breath, constant coughing and wheeziness. Different people will experience different symptoms and DampAir would suggest you contact your GP urgently if you are concerned.
As already explained, dust mites and their droppings are the main cause for asthma. They can also cause allergies, such as eczema. This happens when the dust mites or their droppings are inhaled or exposed to our skin. Whilst it is impossible to get rid of dust mites altogether, when your home is not ventilated property, the dust mites will continue to reproduce at a speedy rate, stimulated by the moisture in the air in our homes. Dust mites require human or animal skin cells together with humid air to multiply and survive.
Our efforts to be more energy efficient have resulted in many of us installing energy efficient solutions into our home, e.g. double glazing. Whilst this ensures we retain the heat in our homes and thus reduce our energy bills, it effectively traps air within the home. So dust mites just continue to breed in the contaminated moist air.
Top …. Tips for spotting Dust Mite Allergies
- Itchy Skin
- Itchy Eyes
- Watering Eyes
- Runny Nose
Aspergillosis is a condition caused by aspergillus mould. There are several different types of aspergillosis – most affect the lungs and cause breathing difficulties.
Aspergillosis is usually caused by inhaling tiny bits of mould. The mould is found in lots of places
If you think you are suffering from Aspergillosis or for more information on Aspergillosis visit the NHS website
Many people suffer from hayfever or pollen allergies. The natural way to avoid pollen is to try to stay indoors and keep clothes washed regularly. Even closing windows and doors helps to prevent pollen entering the home.
Dampair would recommend the installation of one of our compact ventilation unit that pumps clean and filtered air through your home. Although poorly ventilated homes don’t produce pollen, they can trap the pollen inside our homes which can aggravate hay fever and allergies as there is no fresh air pushing polluted air back outside.
Dead skin cells from our pets can also trigger allergies. It can cause wheezing, a blocked or streaming nose and sneezing.
Even if you do not own a pet the allergens from the pets dead skin cells can stay in a property for years. Allergy sufferers may benefit from one of Dampair’s compact ventilation units. It pumps a continuous flow of filtered air through the property, and can minimise allergy triggers, by eliminating contaminated air.
The importance of introducing good air ventilation to your property
If you are living in a damp property it is vitally important you introduce good air quality. DAMPAIR survey, supply and install single room and whole house ventilation solutions therefore improving the air quality of your home.