While many of us are aware of the dangers of smoking, too many people still do it and it is vital to understand the damage that smoking does to people’s lungs – including second-hand smoking. However, while smoking gets a lot of the publicity, there are in fact lots of other things that people are regularly doing that are harmful to our lungs such as working around asbestos and being exposed to allergens.
While asbestos is rarely used anymore due to its potentially dangerous characteristics, it is still found in many older properties that were built before the dangers of asbestos were uncovered. Expert asbestos testing can be carried out before renovation work to see if there is any asbestos present in a building but it is vital that this testing is only ever undertaken by a professional company that knows what they are doing when handling asbestos.
Let’s take a look at some of the things that people regularly do that can be dangerous for their lungs:
- Working with Asbestos
Asbestos can cause many health problems, including the following:
- Asbestosis
- Mesothelioma
- Lung cancer
It can also cause a number of other problems in the lungs such as pleural plaque and effusion, which is why it is essential to only employ a company with experience in handling asbestos before getting any building work done on a building that contains these dangerous minerals.
- Breathing Outdoor Air
While we need to breathe whilst outdoors, it is easy to think that the air we are breathing in is fresh when in fact it is full of everything from engine fumes to liquid particle pollutants. These can cause people to do everything from wheezing and coughing to getting asthma and it is important to wear a mask if living in a highly polluted area, such as in the centre of a busy city.
- Cleaning the House
Some of the chemicals that are used in housecleaning duties can be very toxic on our lungs and they can lead to all kinds of health issues, including asthma. It is a good idea to switch to use green products or even make homemade cleaning products instead by mixing cleaning agents like vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda with water. If chemicals need to be used, then open the windows and doors, to ensure the area is well ventilated.
- Hair Styling
Using products such as hair sprays is also bad for the lungs and colouring agents as well as straightening products can contain ingredients such as formaldehyde that will irritate the lungs. Ventilation is key for avoiding this problem or wear a mask to reduce the risks.
People can click here for more information on how to avoid being exposed to asbestos either in their own home or at work and next to smoking; being exposed to asbestos is one of the deadliest things that people can do to their lungs.