Today we shall be sharing the dangers of drying laundry indoors and this is a topic we seriously need to create awareness for especially now that we are in the rainy season.

Here comes the rainy season where most people find it difficult to dry cloths outside due to daily down pour,  many have resort to indoor drying as an alternative without knowing the health risk of drying laundry indoors.

Moist environments create conducive breeding space for mould, which then releases spores hereby causing asthma attack or triggers allergic reactions.

Our elderly parents, Young children, and people with suppressed immune systems, may be particularly at risk.

It is advisable we dry our laundry outside where possible and keep our homes ventilated in-order to prevent mould from building up.

TIPS ON HOW TO DRY YOUR LAUNDRY

Avoid airing damp clothes indoors if possible.
Keep windows open or use extractor fans to ventilate your home.
Regularly wash mould off hard surfaces with a mix of vinegar, soap and water.
Use humidifiers or air purifiers to reduce humidity if necessary.
Keep air conditioner and heating filters clean and dry.
Fix leaks and moisture problems as they arise.
Source: RTE

WHY IS IT A RISK?

Pheena Kenny, health promotion manager of the Asthma Society of Ireland, said: 'Moist environments encourage the growth of mould which can release 'seeds' called spores.

'The spores can cause allergic reactions in some people.

'But for some people with asthma who are sensitive to mould spores, it can act as a trigger, causing asthma symptoms to get worse,'

These include young children, the elderly, people with a suppressed immune system, those with a severe form of asthma or people with skin problems, such as eczema.

What can we do to prevent this?

Ms Kenny recommends we dry our laundry outdoors where possible or in well-ventilated rooms away from living spaces.

It is to be noted that mould grows in damp environments e.g. bathrooms and kitchens

Always keep your rooms ventilated. It’s advisable to always open windows so that mould would not be able to build up, the use of extractor fans will also prevents mould from building up.

Humidifiers or air purifiers can also help to manage humidity.

The mixture of soap, vinegar and water should be use regularly to clean hard surfaces in order to remove mould

This comes after researchers from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York revealed stressed pregnant women who are exposed to air pollution are more likely to have asthmatic children.

Boys whose mothers were exposed to both of these risk factors are more likely to develop the condition by age six, they found.

VITAMIN D IN PREGNANCY MAY PROTECT BABIES FROM ASTHMA 

Taking vitamin D supplements in pregnancy strengthens babies' immune systems, which may lower their risk of developing asthma, research revealed last month.

The unborn babies of expectant mothers who take more than the recommended daily vitamin D dose for pregnant women respond better when exposed to simulated pathogens, a study found.

Previous studies have demonstrated a link between a strong immune system in early life and a reduced risk of asthma.

Researchers believe this may also extend to greater respiratory health overall.

Lead researcher Professor Catherine Hawrylowicz, from King's College London, said: 'For the first time, we have shown that higher vitamin D levels in pregnancy can effectively alter the immune response of the newborn baby, which could help to protect the child from developing asthma.'


SOURCE: http://healthexamined.com/health-risk-drying-laundry-indoors/

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