Home Sweet Home? 5 Potential Health Hazards of Old Homes

Some individuals choose to purchase older homes for a variety of reasons such as their size, aesthetic appeal, and more. However, there are plenty of problems that go along with older homes that many are not aware from, such as radon in the basement, cracked foundation, and others. Before making the final decision to purchase an older home, homeowners should consider five potential health hazards of older homes.

 

Radon

Known as the second leading cause of lung cancer, this is a naturally occurring gas in our environment. Cracks in the foundation are usually the way radon enters the home, and 1 in 15 houses in the country have a high level of this gas, according to the EPA. Unlike new construction homes, where Radon detectors often come standard, older homes need to be tested. If there is a dangerous level of Radon found, you may spend a significant sum of money installing ventilation and sealing the basement floor.

 

Cracked Foundation

A lot of materials and processes were used in older homes that leave them open to cracked foundations. Many homes were not sealed on the exterior side of the home, leaving them susceptible to cracking. Moreover, materials such as cinder blocks and cement tend to crack and leave over a period of time. All of this can lead to mildew, mold, and even termites and rot.

 

Lead Pipes

Replaced in the 1940s, lead remained present in the mid-1980s in the solder that was used to join copper pipes. So even if the pipes themselves are not made of lead, there can still be traces of the substance within the home. Exposure to lead over time can cause a number of health issues including lead poisoning and chronic headaches.

 

Lead-Based Paint

Typically, even if lead-based paint was used on the exterior of the home, it was painted over several times, encapsulating it in a Latex-based product. However, over time, the paint can crack and chip and become airborne which can then be inhaled or ingested by child and adult alike. This is a caution to be aware of in older homes.

 

Asbestos

This sturdy but hazardous material was commonly used in composite roofing material, cement-and-fiber siding, in vinyl floor coverings, water pipes, and to insulate boilers and furnaces. When asbestos is cracked it becomes friable and thus easily inhaled or ingested. Older homes built prior to the 1980s may have trace amounts.

 

Potential homeowners should be aware of these potential health hazards of older homes. Finding out about the home, when it was built, and any remodeling can help you avoid or fix the hazards.

Categories: based paint, cracked foundation, hazards, health, health hazards, homes, homes nbsp, lead based, nbsp lead, old homes, older homes, potential, potential health

Things You Should Know About Herbal Supplements

It seems that herbal supplements are becoming more and more common as household names. We already think of Echinacea when we want to deal with colds. We think of ginkgo if we want to improve memory function. We think of flax-seed when we want to reduce our levels of cholesterol, and there are so many more now that it becomes difficult to list all the names. Yes, herbal supplements have taken off as big business whether people are looking to lose weight, gain muscle or avoid illnesses. But how much do you really know about them? Could it be true that we generally take herbal supplements without actually being sure they’ll help us out. Here are a few things that you should know about herbal supplements before you buy them.

 

Herbal supplements are not anything new – they have been around for a long time. Sometimes referred to as botanicals, they are medicines and pills that have been used for their medicinal purposes for thousands of years. All sounds good so far right? Well, the trouble is that many herbal supplements are largely untested by the scientific community, or have not stood up well to the kind of scrutiny that other medicines go through to gain recognition. It’s also well known that as these are natural herbal products, they do not need to be verified as useful by the drugs authorities, and therefore the people who make them are relatively a law unto themselves. Suddenly it’s beginning to sound a bit worrying.

 

It is a certainty that some herbal supplements have drug-like effects that, if seen it drugs, might be considered to be dangerous enough to avoid the authorities allow them to be put into the market. But as there is no controlling body, there is no way to stop the flow of these supplements into the community. This has the potential to be very dangerous – so it’s vital that you do the research for yourself and only take the herbal supplements that you know to be safe. Don’t fall for the marketing gimmicks of the companies, instead find real reviews and be sure within yourself that you aren’t putting yourself in harm’s way be taking them.

 

The best advice here is that you should talk to your doctor if you are worried about the potential effects of a particular herbal supplement. They will have a good idea of what may or may not be dangerous for you to ingest and you’ll be making an informed decision based on their suggestions. This is a much better idea that just going in blind without knowing whether or not these pills could damage your health.

 

Remember that herbal supplements are still regulated, but not in the same way that drugs are. They have to be manufactured under the careful and safe precautions, so you at least know that the creation of the products should not put you in any danger. Still it may be best to be safe rather than sorry as often there are practical alternatives to taking these supplements that cannot be deemed a potential risk to your safety.

 

It doesn’t make any sense to mess around with things that can be as dangerous as this, so consult your doctor first. Always try herbal supplements in moderation even if you know they are safe, it’s best to try things slowly and not rush your body or attempt to force whatever change you want. Remember there are usually healthier natural ways to achieve your goals and its probably taking a look into them.

Categories: Drug, herbal, herbal supplements, nbsp, potential, Safe, Supplements