Roughly 100 years ago, only 1% of the Swiss population suffered from asthma or had an allergy. Today, that figure stands at between 25% and 33%. There are numerous theories out there as to why this has happened, but it is no coincidence that, over the last 30 years, 80,000 man-made chemicals have also entered the public domain.
It takes years, if not decades, for our immune system to build up a resistance to a ‘foreign body’ and, in the meantime, our own physiology remains remarkably fragile. Our lungs are remarkably sensitive, as is our skin, so we have little in the way of a natural defence mechanism against modern chemicals. The consequence of this then manifests itself in the form of excessive coughing and sneezing, asthma attacks and skin rashes.
A safe and clean home environment is becoming even more important
We can’t control the environment outside our home, but we can easily control it inside, providing we know what we are dealing with.
One of the biggest problems today is a lack of time for ‘household chores’ and manufacturers of cleaning products have taken advantage of this fact. They claim they are providing cleaning products that are more effective and more efficient, and at the end of the day, they also provide you with products that leave your home smelling clean and fresh for days.
Herein lies the obvious paradox. A clean surface has no smell whatsoever, so if a surface smells clean, there must be something on it.
Don’t swop dirt and dust for chemicals and VOCs
Those cleaning products that smell fresh don’t clean at all. They may help you remove dust and dirt, but in their place, they leave behind a residue of chemicals that are designed to release a fragrance. That fragrance has to become airborne for us to be able to smell it, so often these cleaning products can contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds which are designed to easily become airborne. The problem is, the lungs we use to breathe with are remarkably sensitive and are not designed to cope with harsh chemical irritants, the consequence. To deal with these chemicals, our lungs produce excess mucus to trap the chemicals, which we then expel, either through coughing or sneezing, in varying degrees of severity, to the point where an asthma attack can be brought on.
Similarly, our skin is also sensitive, and our immune system is designed to attack foreign bodies. When harsh chemicals are absorbed by our skin, our immune system will try to attack them to stop them from invading our body, which manifests itself in the form of a rash. This can simply be mildly irritating, to one which breaks the derma, the skin protecting us, leading to a weeping sore, which is normally caused by the white corpuscles in our blood (our personal defence force against foreign objects) seeping out through the break in the skin.
Making your home a place of refuge from 21st-century chemicals
There is a wealth of green and eco-friendly products available, but if you don’t have the time, or energy, to investigate alternative cleaning materials, perhaps it’s time to think about using the services of green and eco-friendly cleaning company that can take the weight of responsibility for providing your family with a safe home off your shoulders. Here at Smart Life Choices, we specialise in domestic cleaning for those who suffer from asthma and allergies, and we can introduce you to a new way of having a home that is genuinely and healthily clean, rather than having a home that just smells clean.
To learn more about us and how we can help you live a healthier life, give us a call and arrange for Martin, the