The Environmental Protection Agency, suggests that Indoor Air Quality is up to 5 times more polluted than the air outdoors, and in some cases, this figure is considerably higher. As the majority of people spend up to 90% of their time indoors, you might like to stop and wonder what impact this is having on your health and well-being.

If you are suffering from any of the following symptoms, and have not been able to determine the cause, it may be worth looking at your Indoor Air Quality.

• Flu like symptoms
• Headaches
• Difficulty concentrating
• Lethargy
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Sinus problems
• Eye irritations
• Chronic respiratory problems, Asthma
• Eczema and skin irritations
• Feeling ‘under the weather’

There are a number of factors that can compromise your Indoor Air Quality. They may include:

• Inadequate ventilation
• Insufficiently maintained heating/cooling systems
• Chemical substances. For example, household cleaning solutions
• Synthetic building materials, finishes and paints (releasing toxic compounds)
• Animal dander
• Dust and dust mites
• Pollen
• Smoking

Rest assured there are measures that you can take to improve your Indoor Air Quality.

1. Improve Ventilation. Opening your windows and switching ceiling fans on can greatly improve the quality of the air indoors. Adequate ventilation is particularly important in wet areas, such as bathrooms.

2. Service Heating/Cooling Systems Regularly. The manufacturer’s instructions will guide you in caring for, and maintaining your system. Also, make sure that you have your system serviced regularly. Ensure that all systems, as well as fire places are sufficiently flued.

3. Eliminate Chemical Substances. There are plenty of environmentally friendly, green cleaning products available on the market. Alternatively, go back to the basics of your grandparents’ generation for keeping the house clean. You will be amazed at what you can do with some bicarbonate of soda and vinegar! That way, you not only save money, you avoid polluting the environment, and you can protect you and your family from the negative effects of toxic chemicals in your home.

4. Natural Building Materials. Avoiding synthetic and chemically treated products will help to reduce the risk of compromising your Indoor Air Quality. For example, use low V.O.C paints on walls. ‘Natural’ is a word that is sometimes overly abused, so the key here, is to do your research. Many companies include the word ‘natural’ into their marketing, although it does not necessarily mean that the product is completely natural.

5. Clean Your Home Regularly. This can go a long way towards reducing the problems associated with poor Indoor Air Quality, caused by dust, dust mites, animal dander, pollen and mold, etc. It may be worth considering the benefits of investing in a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner.

6. Air Purifiers. Air Purification Systems assist in removing contaminants from the air. Other ways to purify the air in your home include:

• House plants such as Areca Palms and Peace Lilies assist in removing harmful toxins from the air.
• Natural beeswax candles clean the air naturally and emit healthy ions (similar to the air you breathe by the ocean, or on a mountain).
• Himalayan Salt lamps. As the salt is heated, it produces healthy ions.

7. Smoke Detectors. Install combination smoke alarms/carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that can be produced by faulty household appliances such as gas heaters.

8. Avoid Smoking In The Home.

Taking the above steps can go a long way towards improving your Indoor Air Quality.

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If your ducts are not cleaned regularly, you may be increasing your risk of suffering from the many symptoms and illnesses associated with indoor air pollution. Many types of pollutants and small particles can collect within the ducts that include mold, fungus, dust, bacteria and viruses as well as other outdoor pollutants, such as exhaust fumes, pollen and animal hair. The more these particles collect within the ducts, the higher chance you have of developing illnesses and symptoms associated with poor indoor air quality.

If you have allergies, you are even more susceptible to the high concentration of contaminants that may be circulating within your home. Poor indoor air quality can cause a variety of symptoms that include nausea, headaches, respiratory illness, congestion, eye and nose irritation, runny nose, trouble concentrating, malaise (generally not feeling well) and lethargy. It also increases the risk of contracting illnesses such as colds, flu and fungal or other infections. Indoor air pollution greatly contributes to the amount of severity of symptoms suffered by those with allergies and can even contribute to the development of new allergies.

Many times we do not think about the quality of air we air we breathe while inside our homes. However, the American Lung Association estimates that we spend anywhere from 60-90% of our time indoors. Usually, the pollutants and fine particles found within the air we breathe indoors are at substantially higher levels of concentration compared to the air outdoors. This makes those with allergies at especially high risk for the health problems associated with poor indoor air quality that may in part be attributed to the debris collected within our ducts.

Dust buildup is the most common cause of asthma and is also the biggest allergen within the home. The more dust buildup there is, the more dust mites there will be, which are true causes of dust allergies. The large quantities of dust mites that are found with collections of dust within your ducts and airborne dust particles are a major contributor to the allergy symptoms experienced by the vast majority people. It is hard to rid your house of dust and avoid the health risks of the allergic reactions attributed to dust mites if there is a large amount of dust buildup within your ducts. This dust is then circulated in high concentrations within your home and is breathed in causing a much higher risk of allergy symptoms and allergic reactions within the body.

Regular duct cleaning is essential for clean indoor air quality and the reduction of the potential health hazards associated with indoor air pollution. It is even more essential for those that suffer from allergies to avoid the severe symptoms associated with them. Dust is the most common allergy, but many other allergens can be found in high concentrations within the ducts and in the indoor air you breathe including pollen, animal hair and fungus. It is important that you clean your ducts regularly. If you do, you will find this will greatly reduce and even relieve the many allergy symptoms you are experiencing and will also reduce your chance for other indoor air pollution health risks. The most important component of your duct cleaning system is the compressor.

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Yου mау nοt realize іt bυt thе air quality іn home οr business mау bе worse thаn уου thіnk, especially during thе winter months. In thе winter, windows аrе rarely opened аnd thе same stale warm air іѕ usually reticulated throughout thе building. Air quality іѕ ѕο poor іn fact thаt ѕοmе studies hаνе shown thаt indoor air quality during thе winter months іѕ 10 times worse thаn during οthеr seasons. If уου’d lіkе tο improve уουr health, уου ѕhουld ѕtаrt wіth thе air уου breath. Here аrе 10 things thаt саn improve уουr indoor air quality. 

1. Decorate wіth Live Indoor Plants: Plants аrе nature’s way οf cleaning air. Thеrе аrе many chemicals саn contribute tο poor indoor air quality аnd many οf thе chemicals thаt mаkе υѕ sick аrе thе ones thаt plants thrive upon аnd convert tο fresh air. 

2. Don’t Smoke Indoors: Thіѕ tip seems tο bе a pretty obvious one, bυt саn provide challenges fοr regular smokers. Bυt thеrе аrе hundreds οf dаngеrουѕ chemicals іn smoke thаt саn bе harmful tο уουr health. Tο protect thе quality аnd freshness οf уουr indoor air уου ѕhουld tеll anyone thаt smokes, tο dο ѕο outside. Sοmе business’s especially bars аnd restaurants now hаνе areas wіth ventilation fans thаt pull contaminants out οf thе air. whісh іѕ thе rule wе implemented, whісh іѕ another option during thе winter months. 

3. Don’t υѕе Aerosols: Aerosols саn case respiratory dіѕtrеѕѕ іn those people wіth lung disease οr asthma. Instead, substitute aerosols wіth οthеr products thаt dο nοt disperse themselves іntο thе air οr thаt υѕе a spray bottle instead οf using compressed air іn a саn. 

4. Cleaning Yουr Shower Curtain аnd Humidifiers: Moist environments encourage thе growth οf mold. Yου ѕhουld replace уουr shower curtain іf іt hаѕ a large amount οf mold οn іt. If thе mold іѕ minimal, уου саn remove thе shower curtain аnd scrub іt wіth a household cleaner аnd rinse before re-hanging. 

5. Check Plant’s Soil fοr Mold: If thе potting soil уου’re plant іѕ growing іn hаѕ mold уου ѕhουld repot іt. Such mold usually appears аѕ white fuzz. Thіѕ wіll hеlр tο improve уουr indoor air quality. Tο prevent іt іn thе future, bе sure nοt tο over water уουr plants. 

6. Change Air Filters: Tο improve indoor air quality, air filters wеrе аll ѕhουld bе changed οn a regular basis. It doesn’t take long fοr thе filters tο fill wіth dust аnd οthеr particles. Bυt еνеrу particle caught bу уουr filter іѕ one less уου’ll hаνе tο breath іn. 

7. Uѕе Ventilating Fans: Ventilation fans exist fοr a reason аnd thаt іѕ tο ventilate thе areas whеrе thеу exist. Thеу аrе usually found іn kitchens аnd bathrooms. It couldn’t hυrt tο install thеm іn аnу area wіth smoke οr fumes such аѕ a garage. In fact lots οf billiard halls υѕе thеm. Thеу ѕhουld pull unclean air out οf уουr house οr building. 

8. Vacuum And Dust: It’s obvious tο vacuum carpets уου ѕhουld аlѕο vacuum οthеr areas such аѕ уουr furniture аnd drapes. Fοr thеѕе things іt mіght bе best tο gеt a smaller hand held vacuum. Yου ѕhουld аlѕο dust weekly tο keep thе “dust mites” аt bay. Yου mіght want tο wear a dust mask whіlе vacuuming bесаυѕе іt саn actually kick dust up temporarily. 

9. Groom аnd Clеаn аftеr Pets: Shedding hair саn a problem tο уουr air quality, bυt wіth thе better vacuuming regular grooming уου саn solve a lot οf thе problems. Yου ѕhουld аlѕο regularly bath уουr pets аnd сlеаn thеіr areas οr cages. Fοr cats, іt mіght hеlр tο mονе уουr litter box іntο аn area wіth less human traffic, lіkе thе garage. 

10. Lеt ѕοmе fresh Air In: It mіght nοt bе thе mοѕt pleasant thing tο dο іn thе winter, whеn іt’s сοld outside, bυt maybe уου сουld open thе window whіlе уου take a qυісk trip tο thе store. Yου’d bе surprised out hοw bіg οf a dіffеrеnсе іt mаkеѕ.

 If уου follow thеѕе steps thе air quality οf уουr indoor air wіll improve dramatically, whісh wіll result уου enjoying thе indoor environment οf уουr home οr business more аnd thе improved health thаt comes wіth better air.

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• Apitherapy relates to the use of bee natural products (honey, venom) with medical purposes. Bee venom therapy has 5,000 years of history, dating back to ancient Egypt, Greece and China

• Bee venom therapy is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, shingles, burns, symptoms of multiple sclerosis, bursitis, tendonitis and other medical conditions

• Melittin is a main component of bee venom. According to some researchers, melittin shows activity against cancer cells grown in laboratory dishes, however studies in people have not been reported in the available medical literature

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Researchers led by Robert Krikorian of the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center tested people in their 70s with age-related memory problems. One group of volunteers drank 16 to 20 ounces of a commercially available blueberry juice every day for two months. The control group drank a non-juice beverage.

At the end of two months, those volunteers who drank blueberry juice showed significant improvements on learning and memory tests. “These preliminary memory findings are encouraging and suggest that consistent supplementation with blueberries might offer an approach to forestall or mitigate neurodegeneration,” the scientists wrote in a report published in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Although previous animal studies had indicated that blueberries may help aging memories, until now there had been little actual testing of blueberries’ effect on people.

According to WebMD, the study also indicated that the volunteers who drank blueberry juice had reduced symptoms of depression and lower glucose levels.

Blueberries are one of nature’s richest sources of phytochemicals and antioxidants.

Ongoing studies are focusing on blueberries’ ability to protect against stroke and lessen brain damage in stroke victims, slow vision loss, prevent cancer, and relieve or prevent upper urinary tract and bladder infections.

Source:http://www.newsmaxhealth.com

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People who continue to use their brains in a wide variety of ways, who keep learning new things, solve problems and do things for others, have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease later in life, and avoid declining brain function.

A small Johns Hopkins study suggests that the mental stimulation of participating in a volunteer program could help delay or reverse declining brain function. Researchers studied 17 women, age 65 or older, at high risk for cognitive decline based on a mental-state test. Eight of the women signed up as volunteers for a program that involves seniors in helping children in urban public schools. At the study’s start and again after six months, all the women’s brains were scanned using MRI technology. After their volunteer stints, the 8 women showed improvements in brain function compared with the non-volunteering control group. As one participant put it, volunteering “removed the cobwebs from my brain.” – Journals of Gerontology: Medical Sciences

Furthermore, having a meaningful impact on someone else’s life, and to know that your own life has value and is making a difference. Do you know why you get up in the morning? Do you feel your life makes a difference? The way you answer these questions is very important for your brain health and memory. The more you value your life and what you do, the better the chances that your memory will stay strong and your brain will keep working well.

Stay alive, stay engaged, stay social and keep learning new things. That will do much for the strength and health of your brain.

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Congratulations! You’re on your way to cutting your heart attack risk by up to 51%! In a 6-year study of 34,000 participants, researchers found that men who drank 5 or more glasses of water daily had up to 51% fewer fatal heart attacks than those who drank less than 2 glasses. Women water-drinkers had up to 35% fewer.

The explanation could be that water dilutes your blood a bit and makes it less prone to clot, which can trigger a deadly heart attack. And the calcium and magnesium in the water don’t seem to hurt either.

Now… care for a refill on that water?

–Dr. Michael Mogadam

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Traditionally, a furnace air filter aims to only capture relatively large particles of dust. Now, however, advanced models that use HEPA or electrostatic air filtration have been able to maintain high efficiency ratings of more than 90%, which simply cannot be compared to the weak 5% efficiency filtration of a disposable filter.

Electrostatic furnace filters are extremely balanced filters, designed to remove 95% of contaminants from the air and have little restriction on the air flow; this ensures that your furnace doesn’t begin to over-compensate for reduced air flow due to a dirty filter and wear out.

Other Benefits Found in the Cost: They have a lifetime warranty, and are extremely easy to maintain, needing only to be washed out every three months. They save you hundreds of dollars by eliminating the monthly cost of purchasing disposable filters. It can be claimed on your insurance if it has been prescribed by a doctor and covered in your health plan.

HEPA air filters may be more expensive and may require special installation, but they can efficiently trap even submicron particles; they are up to 99% efficient, making them the number one choice on the market today if you live in high pollution areas or suffer from dust allergies.

It is very important that while capturing the dust particles, the furnace air filter does not restrict the furnace air flow. This is why any furnace filter will need regular inspection and maintenance or replacement.

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“Much of what I thought I knew about cancer treatment and survival changed when two years ago I watched a friend share the journey with his wife through her diagnosis, treatment and recovery from Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.” Martin says that it is because of well-funded research that the significant advances in diagnosis and treatment have come about, and this is why he is motivated to ride his bike 200 km over two days with his team, Suzanne England, Jonathan Harrop, and Janine Revay.

Proceeds will support breakthrough research, exemplary teaching, and compassionate care at the Alberta Cancer Foundation, a leader in cancer research and treatment. Martin’s team goal is to raise $10,000 for the event – and we’ve decided to run this article to reach out for support from our shared community.

Interested in learning more?

Visit Martin’s Participant Page

You can also visit his Team Page

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These are strategically bundled to meet the expectations of all budgets. They also all include complementary Carbon Monoxide testing as one of the main components in achieving a safe home environment.

Silver – Basic Budget Bundle
This package provides the complete cleaning of your furnace and vents, and it includes the complimentary Carbon Monoxide test.

• Complete furnace cleaning and tune up
• The perfect fit for any budget
• Includes a complimentary Carbon Monoxide test

View Silver Package

Gold – Always Clean Package
Our Gold, Always Clean Package is a value-filled option that has become a client favourite, with more than $130 worth of savings and a personalized approach to the complete Indoor Air Quality management of your home.

• Complete furnace cleaning and tune up
• Our most popular package based on value, yet still affordable
• Includes complimentary Carbon Monoxide test and Volts & Amps test, system sanitization, and our special home care package

View Gold Package

Platinum - Executive Premium Package
Our Platinum, Executive Premium Package is the mother-load of our offers, overflowing with savings and value that simply can’t be matched. It also includes a complimentary furnace performance check-up in six months.

•  Complete furnace cleaning and tune up
• Incredible value, including everything in our Silver and Gold packages and more – like a free furnace chimney stack cleaning…
• additional offers available ONLY through the purchase of this package

View Platinum Package

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