With winter upon us, most of us are well into the season of using indoor heating. Staying nice and warm indoors will help prevent us from getting sick, right? Did you know that indoor heating actually can have negative impacts on your health? Learn more about the impacts of indoor heating on your health and how to stay healthy this winter. Visit AFC Urgent Care Stoneham for same-day illness diagnosis & treatment near Stoneham, MA.

Is Indoor Heating Bad For You?

Indoor heating is not bad for you, it helps keep your living space at a comfortable temperature and prevents conditions like frostbite and hypothermia from developing. However, there are some health conditions associated with using indoor heating that may surprise you. The most significant downfall of indoor heating is that it causes the air to dry out. Our lungs have to stay moist in order to function properly. Exposure to dry air for a prolonged period of time can cause wheezing, shortness of breath, and other respiratory problems.

Similarly, closing our windows and using heat can increase your exposure to lung irritants, such as dust and allergens. This can cause itchy and watery eyes, coughing, headaches, sneezing, and more. Although heating cannot give us a virus, the increased use of heating in communal spaces such as the workplace, school, and restaurants decreases air circulation and increases your risk of contracting a virus.

How To Prevent Illness From Indoor Heating

Symptoms from indoor heating may present as illness symptoms, which can make it difficult to identify whether your heater is having an impact on your health. Regardless, it is a good idea to implement a few precautionary measures if you are finding yourself repeatedly sick this winter to rule out the possibility of your heat causing illness symptoms.

• Utilize a Humidifier: Not to be confused with a dehumidifier, a humidifier adds moisture to the air. We recommend adding one to your bedroom and using it while you sleep so that you can increase the moisture in your lungs while you’re inactive.
• Clean Your Space Regularly: Exposure to irritants like dust tends to increase when we keep our windows closed. Dusting regularly can help reduce your exposure to such irritants.
• Stay Hydrated: Staying hydrated can help combat the drying impacts of your heating system, both for your lungs as well as for your skin.
• Take Hot Showers: If your lungs are feeling especially irritated, using steam to moisten them can help. Taking a nice long, hot shower is a great way to relieve some lung irritation quickly.
• Use A Saline Spray: Your nose can also dry out very quickly due to heat exposure. Using a saline spray regularly can help keep it moist and prevent nose bleeds in the winter.

Visit AFC Urgent Care Stoneham for Illness Diagnosis & Treatment Near Stoneham, MA

If you’re suffering from illness symptoms, seeking medical treatment for an official medical diagnosis is vital to identifying the true cause of your symptoms. At AFC Urgent Care Stoneham, our walk-in clinic is open 7 days a week with extended business hours. We never require an appointment for care at our clinic, simply walk-in for fast and accurate illness diagnosis & treatment.

Our medical providers are board-certified and trained to diagnose a variety of illnesses based on your symptoms. Our state-of-the-art facility is also equipped with an on-site laboratory which allows our medical team to perform fast diagnostic testing for an accurate diagnosis. We accept most medical insurance plans and offer affordable care. Walk-in or schedule an appointment online today. For additional questions regarding our clinic, please contact us directly by calling (781) 279-4000.