We all want a deep, restful sleep. Not only do our bodies crave physical rest, but our mental health and overall quality of life also need a good night’s snooze.
So how come we toss and turn? Could it be that our indoor air quality affects our sleep more than we know?
It’s time to throw back the covers and learn how we can improve our sleep. After all, our health is counting on it!
Keep reading to discover how poor indoor air quality can impact your slumber.
Our Bodies Need Sleep – It’s Nonnegotiable!
Sleep is fuel for our busy, on-the-go bodies. It restores our energy and allows us to begin each day with alertness, strength and vigour.
Sleep is also a necessary component of a high-functioning brain. Did you know that while you slumber, your brain is actually memorizing and learning the experiences you had throughout the day?
Maybe that’s why people always tell us to “sleep on it!” when we have to make a big life decision.
Beyond the learning process, sleep is also crucial for your emotions and stress management. Without enough sleep, you could experience higher stress levels. Or have difficulty processing emotions. You might even notice significant changes to your mood, memory, attentiveness, pain perception…etc.
In fact, according to Canadian Public Health, almost all your bodily functions require sufficient sleep – including the,
- Immune System,
- Brain,
- Heart,
- Lungs,
- Metabolism and
- Endocrine System.
Without enough sleep, your whole body suffers!
The Impact Of Poor Indoor Air Quality
What does our indoor air quality have to do with it?
Does the quality of our air really impact the quality of our sleep that much?
In short, yes!
Indoor air quality can make it difficult to fall asleep. But it can also lower the quality of your sleep and prevent some of the health benefits of a good night’s rest.
Here’s how:
Allergens
How often do you clean the mattress, curtains, rugs and other materials in your bedroom?
Most people don’t even think of cleaning these areas.
Not weekly.
Not monthly.
Not even yearly!
So while you might think you’re sleeping on a fresh, clean cloud after changing your sheets, that’s not usually the case.
Allergens like dust mites, pet dander, pollen and mould are commonly found in the bedroom. You can usually find them hiding in a dark corner of the closet or within the fibres of your bedding.
And the impact of these hidden allergy triggers on your health is never pretty!
Nasal congestion, coughing, itchiness and shortness of breath are only a few of the allergy symptoms associated with these triggers. And all make it next to impossible to fall asleep!
Indoor Air Pollution
Did you know indoor air pollution is often more dangerous than outdoor pollution?
Your home is full of pollutant sources – many that you aren’t even aware of!
For example:
In one of our recent articles, we talked about some toxic chemicals emitted in things like laundry detergent and fabric softeners. And how cleaning your laundry with these products can potentially harm your indoor air quality.
Some of these laundry products emit harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds). In fact, even your mattress, furniture and paint can emit VOCs!
VOCs are human-made chemicals that can cause short-term health effects like:
- Nose, throat and eye irritation
- Nausea
- Breathing difficulty
- Dizziness
- Headaches…etc.
In the long-term, they can even cause damage to your nervous system, liver and kidneys!
Not only can indoor air pollution make sleeping more difficult, but it can also harm your overall well-being if left unchecked!
Temperature
Would you rather:
a) Sleep in a warmer room, or
b) Sleep in a colder room?
Let’s see what Statistics Canada has to say about this!
In Canada, 29% of households turn off their conditioning overnight. 16% set their A/C’s to 24 degrees Celcius or higher. 33% prefer to sleep in a bedroom set between 20-23 degrees. And lastly, 9% prefer 19 degrees or lower!
So who’s right?
While the temperature of your bedroom usually relies on personal preference, science does recommend keeping a temperature of around 18.3 degrees in your bedroom. This temperature helps your body maintain a healthy and comfortable core temperature.
Did you know that your body temperature decreases while you sleep? Keeping your room cool will help your body sustain that ideal temperature so you can sleep comfortably throughout the night!
Humidity
Humidity – that unpleasant hot, stickiness that makes everything around you feel damp.
It’s undeniable that a lack of humidity control hampers our sleep like no other.
High humidity brings a high moisture content to your room – making it feel warmer than it really is.
Low humidity dries out your air – causing itchy skin, sore throats and dry nasal passages.
Both ends of the spectrum can significantly affect the quality of your sleep.
Better Air Quality Means Better Sleep
So, how do we prevent these poor indoor air quality factors from affecting our sleep?
Air Ventilation
Home air ventilation can help reduce stale air, pollution and moisture content!
At Shipton’s CleanAir Solutions, we offer Heat Recovery Ventilators. These systems are great for filtering fresh air into your home and circulating it – day and night!
Air Filtration
Adding air filtration to your home’s heating and cooling system is a great way to remove allergy triggers like:
- Dust mite
- Pollen
- Mould spores
- Pet dander…etc.
Our Pristine Air Filtration Systems offer features like HEPA filtration, UVC Light Filtration, whole house germ control and odour removal. So you can breathe easy at night!
Whole House Dehumidifier
A whole-house humidifier can help to effectively:
- Control humidity levels.
- Protect wood flooring and furniture from drying, cracking, buckling or separating.
- Prevent static electricity.
- Relieve dry, itchy skin.
- Reduce susceptibility to infection.
- Reduce nosebleeds (because nobody wants to wake up with one of those!).
A/C & Furnace Maintenance
We have talked about the importance of furnace maintenance and A/C tune-ups quite a bit over on our sister site – Shipton’s Heating and Cooling. And both preventative maintenance services are essential in maintaining good indoor air quality.
During a maintenance call, our HVAC technicians will ensure your system(s) are clean, in good working order and operating at maximum efficiency.
We’ll also make sure to change your A/C or furnace filter too!
Changing your HVAC filter out about every 90 days can help ensure the air in your sleeping space stays clean and fresh. Plus, it can also help extend the life of your HVAC system.
A win-win if you ask us!
Duct Cleaning
Duct cleaning is another easy and effective way to help improve the quality of your indoor air. With the right duct cleaning package, you can:
- Remove odours.
- Remove mould.
- Reduce dirt and debris.
- Reduce harmful toxins and allergens.
- Improve your HVAC system’s airflow.
Catch Some Z’s With Our Summer Savings Event!
Our Summer Savings Event is on now!
This summer, get 10% OFF our Duct Cleaning Services and $50 OFF our Whole-Home UV Filtration Systems!
*This offer expires on August 31st, 2022.
*Cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions.
Contact Shipton’s CleanAir Solutions To Learn More About Indoor Air Quality!
With good indoor air quality, you’ll sleep soundly in no time!
Give our IAQ specialists a call today for a free, no-obligation quote on our indoor air quality products. We’re happy to meet with you to discuss your unique needs. Contact us by phone at (905) 544-2470 or message us online!
