Spring Is In The Air…But How Clean Is It?

By Dr. Trina Ting

The snow has melted, the grass is slowly turning green, and the air is brisk with anticipation of the new season. However, for those who have seasonal allergies, it can be a miserable time. So open windows can actually bring in air that will harm those who have allergies to pollen. What is good air quality then, inside or outside?

During COVID, everyone on the internet became an air flow specialist. The one thing we have failed to adequately address after the COVID-19 pandemic was that clean air is a public health issue. Just as much as we have rights to clean water, clean air is a major health issue and environmental policies and building codes need to be kept up to date to reflect that.

Canada uses the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) that is cited in our daily weather report, using a scale that ranges 1-3 as Low Risk (Both Sick and General Populations can enjoy outdoor activities, 4-6 as Moderate Risk (Sick Populations might want to consider staying indoors), 7-10 as High Risk and 11+ as Very High Risk in which all populations should stay inside.

While we have little control over the outdoor air, we can do the following:

· Check pollen counts on your weather report

· You can wear a N-95 masks outside when air quality is very poor from smoke or pollutants: unfortunately surgical masks don’t work as well, but can do in a pinch

· Spend more time inside when directed by the AQHI levels

However, where you spend your time inside matters. How can you improve your indoor health quality? Here are a few ways:

Avoid burning candles (scented or not) or using air fresheners: Unfortunately, despite the millions spent on indoor candles every year, using candles is known to release toxic irritants into the air such as formaldehyde which is a known carcinogen. Scented candles release more fine particulate matter than unscented candles, but both are emitting particulates in the air that can be toxic. Using fragrance in the air can also allow the toxic chemicals to enter your airways, whether it’s burned or not.

If you do burn candles in the house, ensure ventilation is adequate and that you snuff out the candle completely.

Use Proper Ventilation: Exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom are important to use, to decrease moisture and remove toxic fumes produced by gas stoves. Opening windows can be useful for some, but it can allow allergens to enter the house unfiltered. For those who suffer from severe pollen allergies, during peak pollen counts, avoid opening windows and simply run the fan on your HVAC system. Use high quality filters and consider a HEPA filter on your central air system, or ones for individual spaces within the home

Dust and Vacuum Frequently: Keeping a clean home keeps dust mites at bay. For those allergic to dust mites, they already know to remove most carpet and curtains from their home and to wash their beddings and linens frequently.

Consider Testing for Radon Gas: a naturally occurring gas, radon can be toxic in high amounts.

Ensure Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors Are Working: Place one near every sleeping area for complete safety.

Select Materials When Renovating or Furnishing that Have Low VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds): Carpets, paints, and varnish on furniture as well as textiles can emit high levels of VOCs.

From the chiropractic perspective, breathing strain caused by seasonal allergies and asthma can create tension in the upper back, chest and intercostal (in between rib) muscles, and neck. Treatment can feel good to relieve the tension in these areas.

If you have suffered from chronic asthma or lung disease, you may also benefit from chiropractic treatment to the mid-back spine, ribs, and all of the connected muscles that are engaged when breathing. By reducing tension in the thoracic spine and chest wall, you may benefit from increased freedom and movement in those areas. ProAdjuster protocols can gently treat the joints of the mid-back and where the ribs attach to the spine as well as the sternum.