The Untethered Life
UNTETHERED - NOT CONFINED OR RESTRICTED WITH A TETHER; UNBOUND, NOT RESTRAINED OR TIED DOWN BY BONDS
2003 was a pivotal year for me. I made a decision to untether my life in radical ways including selling a beautiful home, designer clothes and a car. Letting go of attachments can be such a liberating experience. For me, it provided an opportunity to contemplate what was essential and meaningful in my life and what wasn’t. Today, I continue my journey untethered in many ways as I plan new adventures and international travel yet what’s different is my renewed appreciation for the essential and significant role our home plays in our lives.
In my former career, I witnessed first hand the serious risks that our homes and businesses have that threaten our future health. As the Director Of Business Development, I surveyed commercial buildings throughout the tri-state area which confirmed that the health of a building is paramount to overall health of it’s occupants. I was later certified in mold remediation to help educate others on the impact of black mold.
In today’s world, sick building syndrome, mold and mycotoxin illness, chemical sensitivity syndrome, smoke and respiratory illnesses are all nearing epidemic proportions. The recent wildfires and traveling smoke, hurricanes, floods and water damage as well as the continuing spread of Covid are all imminent risk factors that call for preventive measures that everyone needs to take. The current events coupled with the amount of time we now spend at home which has increased dramatically are putting everyone at risk for serious illness.
Based on the American Time Use Survey, we spent about 62% of our waking time at home as compared to 2019, when we spent 50%. With the exception of household activities, there was an increase in every category. Work from home went up 142%. Education at home including home schooling more than doubled. Families are cooking at home versus eating out as COVID was the beginning of a new trend and catalyst to make more informed lifestyle choices.
It is with this in mind, that we are providing invaluable resources to inform and educate you on the ways your indoor environments impact your health and some simple steps you can take today that will make a remarkable difference now and in the future.
MOLD AND MYCOTOXINS
A 2007 study found 47% of all homes in the US had water damage issues leading to toxic mold. With increasing extreme weather (flooding in particular), that percentage is likely very much higher now. Further, 85% of commercial buildings were found to have significant issues leading to mold and old school buildings are often plagued with mold.
Molds and their toxins can disrupt your body in so many ways. Studies have shown mold can:
severely dysregulate mast cells
cause increases in histamine levels
cause general dysregulation of the immune response
contribute to autoimmunity
act as a hormone disruptor
lead to nervous system dysregulation and sensitivities
clog up detox pathways
Mast cells are cells found in connective tissue throughout our bodies as part of our immune system and are particularly prominent in tissues of our bodies that interact with our external world, such as those found on our skin and in our respiratory and digestive tracks. Mast cells can also be found in the organs and tissue of our circulatory and nervous systems. Mast cells play an important role in protecting our health by providing a line of defense against pathogens. Mast cell activation in the respiratory tract can also result in: airway constriction; an increase in mucous (can lead to sinus problems, inflammation and inflammatory conditions like asthma.
When it comes to the Air Quality Index, mold falls under a category called Particulate Matter (PM). PM includes pollutants like mold, dust, pollen, soot, and more. If you are looking at anything referring to air quality, you might come across the numbers PM2.5 and PM10. This refers to the size of the particle. Both PM2.5 and PM10 are inhalable. That means these particles are getting into your lungs, and in some cases, even your bloodstream. Multiple studies associate particulate matter with serious lung-related health conditions and mast cell activation. Mold is so common in homes nowadays that most people are affected by it.
There’s another trigger in your home that is likely more common than you realize, too. VOCs…
VOC’S
Off gassing is the release of airborne chemicals and whats called VOCs. VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds are toxic and can be 2-5x higher inside than outside. VOCs can come from:
new furniture, carpeting, flooring, cabinets, curtains
mattresses
pillows
fragrance in candles and plug-ins
paint
conventional cleaning products
car exhaust from attached garages
VOCs are one of the top 10 toxins in the home. That’s because the EPA states that high concentrations of VOCs stay in the air long after the initial exposure. That smell of “new” carpet or a “new” car is off-gassing and those compounds can linger for months or years! Some of the common symptoms related to VOCs are eye, nose, and throat irritation.
headaches
nausea
damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system
suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.
And once again, the mast cells are going to want to fight off those toxic invaders. Toxins = increased mast cell activation. Toxins can also hide in dust and you might be surprised just what makes up dust…
DUST AND FOREST FIRES
Dust mites seem harmless enough, but they can be highly toxic. It’s one of the things that makes up the Particulate Matter (PM). You may have heard that dust is mostly made of dead skin, however most of the dust in your house comes from outside. It’s tracked in as:
dirt on your shoes
airborne particles
fibers ( from your clothes and carpets)
bug parts
Airborne particles resulting from wildfires, landfills, or construction sites also make up dust. Wildfire smoke contains two types of air pollution. One is the particulate matter (PM) you read about earlier.
The general term “dust” includes a lot of different substances…including particles from wildfires. Remember that this PM is inhalable and getting into your lungs and bloodstream and they are going to trigger a mast cell reaction. Your mast cells will see these PM as invaders and start to fight them off.
The other way wildfires are affecting your air quality is by producing VOCs. Gases found in wildfire smoke can include carbon monoxide and ozone. Both are lung irritants.
It turns out any kind of dust holds toxins from the environment and scientists have found all kinds of toxins in the dust they’ve studied from people’s homes. Even pesticides outlawed years ago have been found in the dust they’ve studied.
RESPIRATORY DISEASES CONTINUE TO RISE EVERY YEAR
· 1 in 12 people (about 25 million) now have asthma.
· Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) became the third leading cause of death worldwide in 2019, causing 3.23 million deaths.
· According to the CDC, 7.1 million people now have respiratory allergies.
· The number of people with multiple chemical sensitivities has increased by over 300% in the past decade, many of whom report asthma/asthma-like conditions.
. Viruses are everwhere and in the air including a new rise in COVID in 2023. An impaired respiratory system can mean the difference between life and death where COVID and other viruses are concerned.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Untether your home by clearing out all clutter, old paperwork, clothes you don’t wear and everything that doesn’t function or may be toxic
Best Resource - Marie Kondo
Replace all toxic cleaning products, laundry detergent and pest sprays with all natural cleaners, like 7th Generation products and essential oils.
Check for black mold in your bathroom…(it is often deep in the drains) and basement or any area of water flooding using a validated mold test kit or mold remediation company trained by Normi
Educate yourself on the toxins that live in your home at the Environmental Working Group website
Remove synthetic curtains and replace with natural blinds or eco shades
The most important thing you can do is purchase a Medical Grade Air Purifyer that specifically adresses mold, mycotoxins, voc’s, viruses and more.
By Carolina McFarland
WE PARTNERED WITH AUSTIN AIR TO BRING YOU THE BEST
Austin Air is the best air purification technology recommended by the CDC, WHO and EPA.
Six clinical trials - Six successful outcomes with Johns Hopkins University, The American Academy of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, the University of Washington and Franklin W Olin College of Engineering.
Austin Air outperformed more than 100 other air purifiers in government tests.
Medical Grade HEPA effectively removes mold spores from the air, while the blend of carbon and zeolite take care of the Mycotoxins.
The Austin Air Healthmate Plus effectively removed up to 99% of pollutants larger than 0.1 microns. It also eliminates a wide range of gases, chemicals, VOC’s and formaldehyde, making it the best choice for people exposed to wildfire smoke.
Austin Air Purifiers are specified for COVID prevention and mitigation.
For more information schedule a call here.