Creating A Healthy Living Environment

Maintaining a healthy body goes beyond physical fitness or the right diet, it also requires that you live in a healthy environment. Our surroundings have a direct influence on the way we feel, how we function and our general health.

Where you live, work and play can all affect you physically and emotionally. A smoggy commute to work followed by a day in a noisy office and an evening in a smoky bar can all work together to have a negative impact on your body.

Remember, you are what you breathe and the toxic fumes from sitting in traffic can nearly triple your risk for a heart attack. In fact, when cities reduce their pollution rates, the rate of cardiovascular illnesses also declines.

Indoor air has its hazards too. Prolonged exposure to mold, dust and cigarette smoke can aggravate asthma or allergies and expose your lungs to a toxic level of air pollution. To live a long and healthy life, you need to live in a healthy environment. Here are 6 tips you can use to improve your air quality:

Get a HEPA filter.

HEPA filters are air systems designed to filter out extremely small dust particles that can worsen allergy and asthma symptoms. Choose a HEPA filter that's large enough to handle the size of your room, you can also purchase household HEPA systems designed to filter an entire house or workplace.

Stop smoking.

You know why smoking is bad for you - increased rate of heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke, but it also makes you look older too. Yellowing skin, lip wrinkles and crow's feet are all smoking symptoms.

Declare war on dust.

Tear up your carpets, clear your clutter and start staying on top of dusting. Use a damp mop on wood or laminate floors as you battle dust bunnies.

Hire a mold inspector.

Have your house inspected for toxic molds, like Stachybotrys chartarum - a particularly nasty mold that can grow anywhere there is moisture and air.

Stay out of traffic.

If you can avoid spending long hours sitting in traffic, do so. Try to consolidate your errands to one trip done at a less-busy time of day. If you can work from home, do so.

Fix your leaks.

Water leaks can be a major cause of mold infestations. Leaking water gets, accumulating moisture and creating a breeding ground for toxic molds. Also, check your home's waterproofing and drainage on a regular basis.