With pregnancy comes many changes. As an expectant mother, not only is your body obviously changing, but your habits, schedule, and life in general change too. There are so many more things to consider when it comes to outside influences that can impact your pregnancy and baby’s development. Pregnant women commonly avoid an abundance of fish due to the mercury levels, they limit certain kinds of unpasteurized cheeses, deli meats, and more, all with an eye toward making sure they are providing their little one with the best possible environment to grow and develop. However, what about things in the air that could impact your health during pregnancy? Certain kind of air contaminants can have a negative impact on your health as well as your growing baby’s, including indoor air pollution at home. However, there are things you can do to mitigate indoor air pollution, ensuring the air you are breathing at home is clean and healthy!
For more information on how to reduce indoor air pollution in your home, give our heating & air conditioning experts a call. We are happy to help you any way we can, from changing filters to doing a clean air survey where we can check your humidity levels, potential mold issues, and more.
Indoor Air Pollution Issues in Your Home and Their Potential Health Implications
While it can be easy to assume that air pollution is not an indoor issue because outside is where things like vehicle exhaust and pollen live, indoor air pollution is a reality that St. Louis residents everywhere must deal with as well. The darker side of this reality when it comes to the health of developing babies and even young children is that medical researchers have found links to poor air quality and pollution, and various negative health consequences. Some of these include:
- Low birth rate
- Preterm birth
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Asthma
- Fertility difficulties
- Miscarriage
While these are just a few of the possible linked health difficulties, others such as high blood and gestational diabetes also add to the list and urgency when it comes to the importance of clean air. However, fortunately there are many things homeowners can do to enjoy clean air at home.
How to Make Your HVAC System Work to Improve Indoor Air Quality
The common indoor air pollutants that people must deal with range from pet dander and dust to more serious contaminants such as mold and mildew. Your HVAC system can help reduce the amount that is circulating around your home. Here is how:
- Filters – The easiest thing to maintaining cleaner air in your home is simply checking the filter and changing it regularly. In addition to your HVAC filter, using standalone air filters in your home can help as well.
- UVC technology – This solution to targeting indoor air pollution is especially useful in the fight against mold, bacteria, and viruses, and can be installed in most systems.
- Ventilation – If your HVAC system has good ventilation design, continuous airflow will mean less indoor air pollution found in stagnant air.
- Humidity levels – Use your HVAC system to control humidity levels at home, making sure you are not inadvertently encouraging mold and mildew growth.
Get More Information on Mitigating Indoor Air Pollution Throughout Your Pregnancy
If you would like to find out more about how to lessen indoor air pollution in your home, especially during your pregnancy, connect with Galmiche & Sons today. Our heating & air conditioning professionals are always happy to answer any questions you may have or help you with any installation needs whether that just means new filters or a new HVAC system entirely.
