The power of breathing to help manage our mental and physical wellbeings is what we believe in wholeheartedly. The benefits are clear and, more often than not, the solution to many issues with anxiety and emotional management can be as simple as knowing and applying the correct techniques for you.
However, there is the obvious problem that arises when your air quality isn’t up to scratch either. A healthy lifestyle starts with the environment we live in. Where we eat, sleep, and work is vital to long-term health. Where that is most important is the air quality of our surroundings.
So, in today’s blog, we’ll be looking into the various types of air quality hazards and how these may correlate with certain chronic health issues down the line. Furthermore, we’ll also be looking into how you can reduce these issues when practicing your own breathing exercises.
Read on!
Indoor Air Quality
For many, issues surrounding good quality air starts at the home. Our homes are safe places for us to sleep, eat, and enjoy life with loved ones. However, poor ventilation can lead to breathing hazards if left unchecked.
Dust, mildew, and even mold can build over time if you don’t give your home a way to recycle air, with problems only multiplying as these issues build. Similarly, many cleaning products used in homes have specific requests to make sure you’re using in a ventilated area, with cleaning detergents and aerosol sprays being especially guilty.
To ensure to absolute best air quality in your home, make sure your open windows and screen doors from time to time to help ventilate the home and let fresh air through the space. This is vital for many breathing exercises, where creating an inviting space for you to focus on the benefits of controlled breathing can be difficult in rooms that feel stuffy or stale.
The Great Outdoors
Of course, while it can be great to let the outside in your home to refresh your surroundings, there are additional issues outside which may be worth considering from a health perspective.
Air pollution is a major issue in our world and can lead to a variety of health issues for populations. Smog and common industrial pollutants from factories and power plants are the worst contributors.
While it’s obviously a challenge to try and change the outdoor air conditions as a single person, there is a logic to what we’re talking about. Knowing your local air quality, and the potential issues it may be causing you can be beneficial to alleviating anxieties, especially if you’re finding breathing techniques difficult to master.
Furthermore, assessing your outdoor air quality may lead to some out-of-the-box thinking, such as conducting activities that let you experience areas with better air quality. Hiking is a proven activity that helps alleviate mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, by combining the benefits of regulated breathing and exercise with the addition of clean air from less built-up areas.
For more information regarding how to manage your breathing for a more effective lifestyle, visit our other blogs here at The Exhale to get the latest tips and tricks. For free guided breathing exercises that you can take anywhere, try out the Breathwrk app here.
And remember: Breathe Better, Live Better.
Ciao!
