• HVTV
    • The Healthy Voyager Travel Show
    • The Healthy Voyager’s Global Kitchen
    • The Healthy Voyager’s TV Guest Appearances
    • Healthy Voyager Radio
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Breads
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Dressings & Sauces
    • Entrees
    • Holiday
    • Kid Approved
    • Sandwiches
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • Soups & Salads
  • Travel
    • Africa
    • Arctic
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Canada
    • Caribbean
    • Europe
    • Latin America
    • Middle East
    • Oceania
    • USA
  • Lifestyle
    • Eco Corner
    • Entertainment
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Finance
    • Gifts
    • Healthy Voyager Approved
    • Holidays
    • Home
    • Product Reviews
  • Wellness
    • Fitness
    • Health & Beauty News
    • Mind + Body
    • Pets
    • Relationship Corner
    • Parenthood
    • Weight Loss
    • Women’s Health
  • About
    • About The Healthy Voyager
    • Press
    • Work With Me
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • Services
    • Wellness Coaching
    • Entrepreneurial and Business Coaching
    • Travel Industry Consulting
    • Restaurant, Bar and Food Service Consulting
    • Financial Coaching
  • Shop
    • Cookbooks
    • The Healthy Voyager Holistic Travel Supplement Product Line
    • Healthy Voyager Apps
    • Healthy Voyager Cafe Vegan and Gluten Free Grab n Go Meals
    • Healthy Voyager Merchandise
    • The Healthy Voyager’s Apothecary
    • When Cris Met Kringle
    • Travel Credit Card Referral Bonuses
  • Contact
100K
58K
54K
27K
16K
The Healthy Voyager
The Healthy Voyager
  • HVTV
    • The Healthy Voyager Travel Show
    • The Healthy Voyager’s Global Kitchen
    • The Healthy Voyager’s TV Guest Appearances
    • Healthy Voyager Radio
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Breads
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Dressings & Sauces
    • Entrees
    • Holiday
    • Kid Approved
    • Sandwiches
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • Soups & Salads
  • Travel
    • Africa
    • Arctic
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Canada
    • Caribbean
    • Europe
    • Latin America
    • Middle East
    • Oceania
    • USA
  • Lifestyle
    • Eco Corner
    • Entertainment
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Finance
    • Gifts
    • Healthy Voyager Approved
    • Holidays
    • Home
    • Product Reviews
  • Wellness
    • Fitness
    • Health & Beauty News
    • Mind + Body
    • Pets
    • Relationship Corner
    • Parenthood
    • Weight Loss
    • Women’s Health
  • About
    • About The Healthy Voyager
    • Press
    • Work With Me
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • Services
    • Wellness Coaching
    • Entrepreneurial and Business Coaching
    • Travel Industry Consulting
    • Restaurant, Bar and Food Service Consulting
    • Financial Coaching
  • Shop
    • Cookbooks
    • The Healthy Voyager Holistic Travel Supplement Product Line
    • Healthy Voyager Apps
    • Healthy Voyager Cafe Vegan and Gluten Free Grab n Go Meals
    • Healthy Voyager Merchandise
    • The Healthy Voyager’s Apothecary
    • When Cris Met Kringle
    • Travel Credit Card Referral Bonuses
  • Contact
  • Wellness

10 Common Household Problems that Can Make You Sick

  • June 5, 2017
Total
46
Shares
0
0
46

sickWhen most people think of ways to improve their health, they automatically look at their own bodies and assess the lifestyle and diet choices they’ve been making. However, sometimes the problem lies not in what you’ve been doing within yourself, but in the conditions you’ve been surrounding yourself with. The body tends to do better at healing and maintenance when it’s in a clean environment that is free of contaminants. Unfortunately, many homes contain pathogens and other forms of indoor air pollution that clog up the sinuses, aggravate allergies, and can exacerbate or lead to a wide range of symptom-causing illnesses. With that said, here are ten of the most common household problems that could be making you sick:

1. Pest Infestations

Even though you might only see an occasional ant, roach, or other bug coming out into the open, there could be a severe, insidious infestation hiding within the walls, attic, or basement of your home. Experts at Lake Norman Pest Control have verified that many of their clients aren’t even aware of the extent of their building’s infestation until a thorough inspection has been conducted to reveal just how bad it really is.

Rodent and bed bug infestations are particularly concerning in regard to health risks because rodents are known to carry diseases and bed bugs can cause anemia and other bothersome symptoms. Likewise, roaches can spread germs onto your food and at the very least they’re a sickening sight to see when you’re trying to enjoy a meal at the dinner table. Check this website for further information.

2. Indoor Air Pollution

Did you know that the air inside most homes is more contaminated than the air outside, even in major cities where smog and pollution is widespread? Poor ventilation, circulation, and filtering are some of the factors that contribute to poor indoor air quality. Typically, this pollution consists of dust, dander, pollen, clothing fibers, and any other small particles that are light enough to float through the air.

Typically, these particles are also small enough to be inhaled, and while most will be captured in the sinuses and upper respiratory system, their sheer presence can cause inflammation, excess mucous production, allergies, and the exacerbation of breathing-related illnesses like asthma and COPD. Even if you don’t have any of those conditions, purifying your home’s air will help you stay in good shape by reducing the burden on your body’s metabolism and eliminatory systems. One thing that can cause a significant improvement on low investment is to get a dehumidifier, you can easily get one by comparing on websites like MachineWonders.com. Humid air is one of the root causes of air contamination as it provokes dust mites which are the most common allergens.

3. Mold

Most kinds of mold won’t make most people sick, but there are some types of mold that can be particularly toxic, and some people with compromised immune systems may be susceptible to experiencing moderate to severe illness when exposed to any sort of excessive mold infestation. 

Mold spores are practically ubiquitous in nature, so humans have developed good defenses against them, but infants, elderly people, and people dealing with other illnesses could encounter problems if a mold infestation gets out of control in their living area. Getting rid of mold can be a tedious and stubborn job that requires professional assistance, as improper cleanup will inevitably result in the mold returning after ideal conditions arise.

4. Dirty Water Filter

Some homes are equipped with whole-house water filters, particularly if the water supply is being pumped from a well. After a while the filter can become clogged with the particles that are being filtered out, and as new water runs through, it picks up those contaminants.

Normally a problem like this would make your tap water taste rich in minerals or it would have another off taste to it. A clogged filter can foster bacterial growth and lead to water-borne illnesses. This is also a common problem with the filters that are built into refrigerator water and ice dispensers. A simple rule of thumb is – if you notice a funny taste or particles in the water, check the filter.

5. Old Air Filter

Just as a dirty water filter could be introducing you to environmental contaminants, so could an old air filter that needs to be changed. If your home has central AC/heating and you notice a musty smell when you turn the air conditioner on, it might be time to inspect the air filter.

You’ll know a dirty air filter when you see one, and fortunately they’ll only cost you a few bucks and a few minutes of your time to replace. A clogged air filter could be causing trapped pathogens to recirculate in your home’s vents, which of course would only serve to increase indoor air pollution rather than decrease it as a filter is designed to do.   

6. Dirty Oven and Stove top

Leaving some burnt cooking debris on the stovetop is a common mistake that can expose you to a number of harmful combustion byproducts and carcinogens every time you turn the stove on. Most people will turn the overhead exhaust fan on only after smelling something burning, but by that time you’ve already released the smoke into the air and have breathed some in.

Over time, cooking with burning material on your stovetop or in your oven can cause these toxic substances to build up in your home and cause unseen cellular damage that worsens or causes health problems down the road.

7. Water Leaks

Water leaks can cause mildew and mold growth, while also inviting bacterial colonies, rodents, and other potentially disease-causing problems. A leak can go unseen for quite a while until an inspection uncovers it.

If you have a mold problem that keeps coming back near a sink or faucet, that could be an indicator that there’s a leak or drip somewhere nearby. Of course, leaks can also affect the structural integrity of your home and should therefore be addressed before they advance to the point of causing water damage.

8. Lack of Natural Light

Some homes don’t let enough sunlight in through the windows, and believe it or not, this can make the inhabitants depressed or even ill if they don’t spend enough time outside of the home. If your house is always dark and dreary, it might be time to consider the addition of a few new windows and/or skylights that are strategically placed to allow maximum natural lighting in the home’s living areas.

If installing new windows is not an option for you at the moment, try to compensate for your home’s lack of sunlight by going on a 20-minute walk outside once per day. Exposure to sunlight helps you absorb a sufficient daily intake of vitamin D, which boosts the immune system and supports mental health.

9. Hazardous Building Materials

If you have an older home, it’s possible that it was built before modern safety regulations were implemented, which means it could contain asbestos and other harmful building materials. Having a specialist do a brief inspection of your home to detect and remove any hazardous materials could save you from the hassle of having to deal with a chronic disease in the long-term.

Unfortunately, some material removal services can be quite costly, but as a homeowner this is something you really don’t want to leave unabated for liability purposes, especially if you’re a landlord renting to tenants.

10. Yard Allergens

If you’re dealing with burning and itchy eyes, frequent sneezing, a runny nose, headache, or any of the other symptoms associated with allergies, the problem might not be in your home – it could be in the yard. Although allergies are typically caused by allergens that are floating throughout your region, minimizing the presence of them in your yard could help you reduce symptoms while you’re at home.

If you’re lucky, it might just be a single set of bushes or trees in your yard that are causing the majority of your allergic symptoms, in which case having them removed could provide tremendous relief. Even if the allergens are unavoidable in your neighborhood, at least you’ll know how to treat the symptoms and which plants to avoid once you’ve identified the cause.

Renovating Your Home with Health in Mind

Many household toxins come from recent or past renovations that weren’t properly done and cleaned after. If you’re planning on fixing some of the problems listed above and/or adding new components to your home, be sure to take air quality and cleanup into consideration beforehand. Line the floors with plastic sheets to prevent paint dust and other particles from settling in the carpet. It’s also very important to adequately ventilate any area that’s being worked on to ensure fine particles are circulated out of the home as they are generated.

Ventilation is especially important when you’re working with paints or sanding equipment, as these can put off noxious gases and tiny particles that could later cause allergic responses in susceptible individuals. Ultimately, your health should be held with higher priority than the appearance of your house, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the appeal and comfort of your home to stay in good shape.

Check out https://nutritiondietnews.com/ to learn about other ways to stay healthy at home.

Related Posts:

  • yoga
    12 Ways to Improve Your Health Through Lifestyle Changes
  • Growing Plants at Home: Top Ways to Make Sure the Air Is Always Clean
    Growing Plants at Home: Top Ways to Make Sure the…
  • heal
    Accelerate Healing and Other Health Benefits of BPC…
  • Healthy Voyager's Mother's Day Gift Guide
    Mother's Day Gift Guide
  • molekule-air-purifier-healthy-voyager
    The Different Stages of an Air Purifier:…
  • sneeze
    Air Quality Matters: The Connection Between Your…
Total
46
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 46
Tags
  • house problems
  • illness
  • sickness
  • tips
  • toxins
Carolyn Scott-Hamilton

The Healthy Voyager, aka Carolyn Scott-Hamilton, is the creator and host of The Healthy Voyager web series, site, and overall brand. An award winning healthy, special diet and green living and travel expert, holistic nutritionist, plant based vegan chef, best-selling cookbook author, media spokesperson, sought after speaker, consultant and television personality, Carolyn Scott-Hamilton is a respected figure in the world of healthy lifestyle and travel as well as special diet cooking and nutrition. The Healthy Voyager aims to help people live well, one veggie at a time!

1 comment
  1. Pingback: Top Three Ways You Can Use Your Basement - The Healthy Voyager

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Meet The Healthy Voyager
Carolyn Scott, The Healthy VoyagerHi! I'm Carolyn Scott-Hamilton. I'm a Latina holistic nutritionist, vegan chef, cookbook author, speaker, show host, consultant and healthy travel and lifestyle expert. From video web series and travel articles, to product reviews and healthy, vegan and gluten free recipes, you'll find lots of info for a happier, healthier and greener lifestyle! After all, Life is a voyage, live it well!
Subscribe to My Newsletter
Enter Your Email Address
For Email Marketing you can trust
Shop
Healthy Voyager TV
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
Facebook 100K Likes
Twitter 58K Followers
Instagram 54K Followers
Pinterest 27K Followers
YouTube 16K Subscribers
LinkedIn 0
TikTok 0

Copyright The Healthy Voyager 2025

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT