Dr. Sam Sukkar - August/September 2020

5 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR HOME’S AIR QUALITY AND PROTECT THE HEALTH OF YOUR FAMILY

Many people have been spending more time at home in the past several months, and it’s felt more important than ever to have good indoor air quality. Air pollution isn’t limited to smog visibly affecting the air around us. More often than not, indoor air can be just as polluted, or even more polluted, than outdoor air. Microscopic dust mites, chemicals, and allergens can aggravate your family members’ allergies or asthma. Here are some easy ways to improve your home’s air quality and better protect your family today. First, vacuum and mop regularly. We recommend vacuuming twice a week or more. Letting dust accumulate will increase how much dust you breathe in. A vacuum that has both strong suction and a HEPA filter can ensure that dust and dirt won’t be blown back out. Floor mats outside your front and back doors can also really help keep contaminants out! Second, keep the humidity moderate. Too much humidity attracts dust mites and mold. Keeping the humidity in your home around 30%–50% can help keep dust mites and mold under control. Third, test your home for radon. No matter how new your home may be, it’s important to test for this colorless, odorless, and radioactive gas. Radon is one of the top indoor air pollutants, and it’s the second leading cause of lung

cancer behind smoking. It occurs from the natural decay of uranium found in nearly all soils and tends to move up through the ground and into the cracks of a home’s foundation. Fourth, pick laundry products and air fresheners that don’t list ‘fragrance’ as an ingredient. The composition of synthetic “fragrances” is considered a trade secret, but most scents are derived from petroleum products. There hasn’t been enough testing done to know how inhaling synthetic fragrances affects us because most current testing focuses on skin irritation. Still, scented products may induce allergy symptoms, so if you have a sensitive family member, stick to unscented products.

Fifth, replace your home’s air filters regularly. Talk to an expert about how frequently you should be replacing your filters.

This can depend on several factors, such as the number of pets in the household, the size and location of your home, what allergies you may be prone to, and seasonal changes.

We are so excited to add another board-certified plastic surgeon to our practice: Dr. Mark Barlow. We are now a three-doctor practice and are offering a wider variety of surgical and nonsurgical procedures, as well as a robust wellness program to better serve our patients. Welcome DR. MARK BARLOW

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