Heaters on, windows closed.. It's winter!!

It's winter.. achchooooo....Bless you!!

Winter is fast approaching. You should now be ready to turn the heaters on to high, close and seal all the doors and windows(especially if you are in a cold region like Minnesota). Even then, your family tend to get sick often during the winter with frequent cold, cough and headache and what not! Chances are.. its not the cold weather, but it could be the way you handle the weather which is making you sick. Here is something you need to know.

Cold and dry weather in the harsh winter time can result in one or many of the following symptoms.

• Cold
• Cough
• Headache
• Rough, dry and itchy skin
• Slight bleeding from the nose
• Cracked lips
• Dry throat
• Itchy eyes
• Nose Bleed

All the above could be because of the dry air trapped inside the house. 

What could be the link between cold air and our health? The cold air lacks moisture and when inhaled, makes the lungs dry out and this dryness makes it more susceptible to cold, cough etc. 

How do you know that the air is dry? Well, there is a quick way to find it out. Answer a simple question. Do you get static shocks whenever you touch anything in your house, especially in your bedspreads? If yes, this is an indication that the air surrounding you is very dry and you are now vulnerable to sickness. Isn't it scary? Here are a few things you could do.

Use a humidifier

Running a humidifier in your home will add moisture to dry, heated air. Wait, it sounds simple. But, there is a catch.

• Change the humidifier water each day
• Every third day clean the tank according to the manufacturer’s instructions
• Take care when cleaning your humidifier if using chemicals; they can be inhaled if the tank is not thoroughly rinsed
• Do not let water stand in the tank. Empty it when not in use, clean, and dry. If your humidifier calls for filters or demineralization cartridges, be sure to use them. Always clean before storing the humidifier for the summer unless you use it all year.

In case you use stagnant old water, the contaminants in the water finds a easy way to reach you through the humidifier. Also, make sure that The humidity level in your home is the amount of water vapor in the indoor air. The humidity should be below 60% in the summer and 30%-50% in the winter. Most common mistake people do is to set the humidifier to a high. This will lead to mold, fungi formation in the ceilings because of the excess moisture throughout the night.

Avoid chemical air fresheners

I can understand that in a sealed place, there is more need for freshening. But, if you are concerned about your health, you need to do this. The air already trapped inside will be more polluted with these chemicals and will become an overload for our health. Instead, you can get help from some fresh orange peels, baking powder or other natural fresheners.

Open some windows during the day

Yes, this will help circulate the air. Rather than recycling the used up air again and again inside the sealed house, let the free air come in and replace the stuffy air once in a while. This does not require you to fully open the doors. Just a few minutes of opening up the windows a little bit can help you out a lot.

Drink adequate water

You might not be feeling thirsty during winters. Still, you will be losing the moisture from the skin due to the cold air around you. Drinking adequate water will help you to keep hydrated. This is needed to compensate the moisture you lose through your skin and will help to prevent your skin from drying. You can even apply good natural products like coconut oil, olive oil or almond oil rather than choosing for harsh chemicals for moisturizing.

Hey, there are some extra benefits too.. 
Consumer energy center says, "For every degree you lower your heat in the 60-degree to 70-degree range, you'll save up to 5 percent on heating costs. Wear warm clothing like a sweater and set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower during the day and evening, health permitting."Also, Turning down the thermostat may shed pounds as cold activates calorie-burning fat. Ain't that good.Now you know how to handle the winter season, right? Hope you have a more enjoyable winter this time.

If you find this article useful, and if you think your near and dear needs to know about this, please care to share.

Sources:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2588424/Your-central-heating-reason-feel-ill.html
http://wellnessappliances.com/mistakes-to-avoid-when-using-a-humidifier/

Radon - No this is not chemistry lesson.. its about our life

Get to know about Radon

Trust me... This is not a chemistry lesson. This is something which we all need to know. Have you ever heard of Radon? Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that seeps up from the earth. When inhaled, it gives off radioactive particles that can cause lung cancer. In fact, over 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the US each year are from radon, making it the second leading cause of cancer in the world.
While radon is present everywhere, in outdoors, radon quickly dilutes to very low concentrations and is generally not a problem. Your greatest exposure is where it can concentrate-indoors and where you spend most time-at home. Your home can have radon whether it be old or new, well-sealed or drafty, and with or without a basement.

Am I at risk?
Here is the link to check which Radon zone you are in USA
https://www.epa.gov/radon/find-information-about-local-radon-zones-and-state-contact-information

Here is the link to check global level of Radon
http://www.fixradon.com/maps/pages/D_01_world_radon_by_country.htm

You can’t see or smell radon. Testing is the only way to know your level of exposure. Radon can have a big impact on indoor air quality.

Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon can be found all over the U.S. It can get into any type of building—homes, offices, and schools—and result in a high indoor radon level. But you and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure at home, where you spend most of your time.

Radons may be found in drinking water too. Radon gas can also dissolve and accumulate in water from underground sources (called ground water), such as wells. When water that contains radon is used in the home for showering, washing dishes, and cooking, radon gas escapes from the water and goes into the air. Some radon also stays in the water. Based on a National Academy of Science report, EPA estimates that radon in drinking water causes about 168 cancer deaths per year.Radon is not a concern in water that comes from lakes, rivers, and reservoirs (called surface water), because the radon is released into the air before it ever arrives at your tap.

This is what you need to know. If you’ve tested your private well and have a radon in water problem, it can be fixed. Your home’s water supply can be treated in two ways. Point-of-entry treatment can effectively remove radon from the water before it enters your home.Point-of-use treatment devices remove radon from your water at the tap, but only treat a small portion of the water you use and are not effective in reducing the risk from breathing radon released into the air from all water used in the home.

Here is what you need to do.
The easiest way to reduce radon is to keep all the windows of the home open, especially all of the basement windows. Keeping basement windows open helps to minimize the negative pressure within the lower part of the home and helps to dilute the radon. For this to work though, the windows need to be kept open all the time. If not, radon returns to full strength in as little as 6 hours.

Since radon is drawn into the house from the soil, sealing openings in the basement floors or walls with caulk can help to reduce the amount of radon entering the home. If you have a sump pump, seal the lid airtight. Cracks in the basement floors, walls and other openings can allow radon to come in easier so caulking work can make a big difference.

If you are building a new home, be sure to ask your builder to have a "passive" radon system installed during construction. The most effective way to get rid of radon is to install a removal system that draws the radon out of the soil before it even has an opportunity to enter the house. These systems are called "Sub Slab Depressurization Systems" or "Active Soil Depressurization Systems". These systems operate by using a piping and fan system that depressurizes the soil that surrounds the home.

I would like to thank my friend who brought this to my notice and helped me to share about such a serious issue with you all.
If you find this article useful, and if you think your near and dear needs to know about this, please care to share.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radon
https://www.epa.gov/radon
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/
http://www.radonawareness.org/how-to-fix.php
http://www.fixradon.com/maps/pages/D_01_world_radon_by_country.htm
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/pollution/radon

Hot Pipe Water for Cooking?

Hot Water from Pipes

Do you use hot pipe water for cooking or for drinking? Think over again. I am here to share the strongest source of information about this from United States Environmental Protection Agency. 

Lead is a chemical element in the carbon group. It is a soft, malleable and heavy post-transition metal. Lead is used in building construction. Lead can enter drinking water when service pipes that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures with lead solder, from which significant amounts of lead can enter into the water, especially hot water. Here is what you need to know. If ingested or inhaled, lead and its compounds are poisonous to animals and humans. Lead is a neurotoxin that accumulates both in soft tissues and the bones, damaging the nervous system and causing brain disorders.

Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in:

• Behavior and learning problems
• Lower IQ and hyperactivity
• Slowed growth
• Hearing problems
• Anemia
• In rare cases, ingestion of lead can cause seizures, coma and even death.

For Pregnant women, lead has serious effects including :

• Reduced growth of the fetus
• Premature birth

Lead is also harmful to adults. Adults exposed to lead can suffer from:

• Cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure and incidence of hypertension
• Decreased kidney function
• Reproductive problems (in both men and women)

Never be careless. Just being in a developed country doesn't mean everything will be perfect. Do you know about the recent Flint water crisis? Here is what you need to do. You can have your water tested for lead. Flush your pipes before drinking by running cold water for a few minutes until it becomes cold. Use only cold water for eating, drinking and cooking. Note that boiling water will NOT get rid of lead contamination. Use proper water filters. Though lead in drinking water is bad for us, EPA states that bathing and showering should be safe for us and our children, even if the water contains lead over EPA’s action level as human skin does not absorb lead in water.

If you find this article useful, and if you think your near and dear needs to know about this, please care to share.

Sources:
www.wikipedia.org
https://www3.epa.gov/
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/136119893@N07