Aging Well With Better Air Quality

Blog Category: Health

Due to human activity, weather, and location, it’s easy for ozone and particles from soot, dust, smoke, and metal to come together and create smog, which is terrible for your lungs. While smog is harmful for everyone, it is even harder on your body the older you get as you are more likely to aggravate or become susceptible to:

  • Asthma
  • Cardiac arrhythmias
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Circulatory diseases
  • Heart attacks
  • Respiratory diseases
  • Strokes

Luckily, there are multiple things you can do to create better air quality for your home and live a healthier lifestyle as you age!

1. Air Purifying Plants

Besides being beautiful, houseplants are also a simple way to purify your indoor air. With a little water and some sunlight, you can freshen your air and bring the outdoors in when you bring these plants home:

  • Aloe Vera
  • Bamboo Palm
  • Broad Lady Palm
  • Calathea Pinstripe
  • Chinese Evergreen
  • Chrysanthemums
  • Dragon Tree
  • English Ivy
  • Ficus
  • Fittonia “Frankie”
  • Flamingo Lily
  • Gerbera Daisy
  • Lemon Button Fern
  • Mass Cane
  • Money Plant
  • Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
  • Parlor Palm
  • Peace Lily
  • Philodendron
  • Pothos
  • Queen Fern
  • Rubber Tree
  • Spider Plants
  • Weeping Fig Tree

2. Home Air Purifiers

Smoke, dust, and pollen are some of the many pollutants that can be found in indoor air. But there are some home air purifiers that can help to eliminate these contaminants:

  • HEPA Filters: If your home’s HVAC is equipped, HEPA filters are a great way to capture small particles in your air. But, if your system doesn’t complement these filters, standalone units may be an option.
  • Carbon Filters: These filters can be used in your HVAC system and are successful at targeting gasses rather than small particles, eliminating odors from smoke, cleaning solutions, or other fumes emitted in the home.
  • UV Lights: These lights can eliminate virus particles and other microbes that are floating in your air before they are sent through the ducts.
  • Electronic Air Purifiers: These units use an electrical charge to capture particles in the air.

3. Don’t Pollute Your Own Air

Finally, you can eliminate pollutants in your air by not putting them there. From the home improvement projects we are doing to the cleaning supplies we are using, we may be polluting our air, so here’s what you can do to minimize that:

  • Use all-natural cleaners when possible. Vinegar, lemon, and simple soap and water may be all you need to avoid spraying harmful chemicals in your home.
  • Keep your floors clean. Small particles will make their way to your floors, so you can keep them out of your lungs by cleaning them more often.
  • Use paints and products with your air in mind! More companies are developing green products to keep toxins out of your home. Before you do your next home project, do your research.

4. Check Your Environment

In addition to making your home environment safe, it is recommended that you get in the habit of checking the Air Quality Index. You may want to avoid going outside during periods of poor air quality, especially when temperatures get hotter. You’ll also want to consider where you live if it’s in a smoggy, smokey, or hazardous area. Living in an area with high exposure to air pollution could exacerbate certain health challenges and lead to a decline in physical and mental function. Maybe it’s time to move to a cleaner environment where you can enjoy the outdoors and know your home will be a healthy place to come back to.

Are you making big lifestyle changes in the future? Explore all the ways you can spend your time in retirement in our ebook, Lifestyle Opportunities in Senior Living Communities.

At Life Enriching Communities (LEC), we’re committed to ensuring patrons feel well-equipped to plan their future and age how they wish. Explore more resources on senior living or contact us today to learn more about our legacy of services and programs that bring meaning and purpose to every stage of life.