Comprehensive Cancer Centers shares the importance of having healthy living environments at home to set people up for successful treatments.
Comprehensive Cancer Centers understands the importance of patients having home environments with healthy living environments that are set up for them to have successful treatments. This includes keeping floors clean and clear to reduce trip and fall accidents, keeping dust to a minimum to help with better breathing, and having sleep environments that ensure proper rest. It’s also important for those who do not have cancer to establish healthy environments that reduce their risks for cancer, and other illnesses.
Smart set ups at home are critical, given the amount of time people spend indoors. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American spends 93 percent of their life indoors. 87 percent of their life is inside buildings, then another 6 percent of their life is in automobiles, leaving only 7 percent of most lives lived outdoors. Another factor that’s increased time spent at home is more and more people working remotely. Backing up the EPA story about people being indoors comes insights from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, who recently published a report that showed in 2022, 34 percent of employed persons did some or all of their work at home.
Given all this time spent indoors and at home, there are clear benefits for keeping these indoor spaces as optimized as possible for those with cancer or those looking to reduce health risks. Some of the benefits of a healthy home environment include the following:
- Reduced Allergens: Regular cleaning helps remove common indoor allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and mold. These allergens can trigger allergies and respiratory problems, particularly in individuals with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
- Preventing Illness: A clean home reduces the risk of illness by minimizing the presence of harmful bacteria, viruses, and pathogens. Cleaning frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, countertops, and bathroom fixtures can help prevent the spread of germs.
- Improved Air Quality: A clean home typically has better indoor air quality. Dust and pollutants can accumulate in carpets, upholstery, and air ducts, leading to poor air quality. Regular cleaning and proper ventilation can help alleviate this issue.
- Mental Health: A clutter-free and clean environment can have a positive impact on mental health. It can reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and productivity, and create a more calming atmosphere.
- Physical Health: A clean home promotes physical health by encouraging regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle. An organized and clean space can make it easier to find exercise equipment and prepare healthy meals.
- Reduced Pest Infestations: Regular cleaning can help prevent pest infestations by removing food crumbs, spills, and other attractants. Pests like rodents and insects can carry diseases and contribute to health problems.
- Preventing Accidents: Clutter and disorganization can increase the risk of accidents and injuries in the home. Cleaning up clutter and maintaining a tidy environment can help prevent slips, trips, and falls.
- Better Sleep: A clean and comfortable bedroom can contribute to better sleep quality. Clean bedding, a dust-free environment, and a clutter-free sleeping area can improve sleep hygiene.
- Respiratory Health: A clean home with good ventilation can reduce exposure to indoor air pollutants and irritants. This is particularly important for those with respiratory conditions like asthma or allergies.
- Long-Term Health: A clean and well-maintained home can help prevent long-term health issues by addressing issues like mold growth, water damage, and structural problems that could lead to more serious health concerns if left unattended.
The benefits of a clean home are numerous and make sense, but getting to that point can be challenging for those with or without cancer. It can be particularly challenging to keep a tidy home in an environment like in Las Vegas’s, with wind carrying dust all year long. The following are quick tips to consider to build a sustainable cleaning routine:
- Establish Habits: Create a regular cleaning schedule that suits your lifestyle, whether it’s daily, weekly, or monthly to create habits that are hard to break. Assign specific tasks to different days to make cleaning more manageable. If someone in the home is under doctor’s care, be sure others help by doing tasks they may not always be able to complete.
- Declutter Regularly: Keeping a home clean is easier when there are fewer things to clean. This can be done by going through belongings periodically and declutter items you no longer need or use. Organize possessions in an orderly manner to reduce clutter.
- Keep Surfaces Clean: Regularly wipe down frequently touched surfaces including countertops, doorknobs, light switches, and remote controls with a disinfectant or soapy water. Dust surfaces, including shelves, furniture, and electronics, using a microfiber cloth or duster.
- Keep Floors Clean: Sweep and mop hardwood and vinyl floors to keep them clean and free from debris. Placing doormats at entrances is an easy way to reduce dirt tracked inside. Vacuum carpets and rugs regularly to remove dust, dirt, and allergens.
- Don’t Forget Bedding: It can be easy to dismiss cleaning your sheets, comforters and pillows, but be sure to wash and change bedding regularly to prevent dust mites.
- Look out for Pets: If you have pets, groom and clean up after them regularly to reduce allergens and odors. Vacuum pet hair from floors and furniture.
- Be Alert for Allergens: Replace shower curtains regularly to reduce mold exposure and change your air filters every 90 days to ensure any allergens they catch don’t get recirculated.
In addition to house cleaning specific efforts, don’t overlook simple things you can do every day, including washing your hands regularly, and remove shoes at the entrance to prevent tracking in dirt and contaminants.
Maintaining a clean home is essential for your health because it can prevent the buildup of allergens, reduce the risk of illness, improve indoor air quality, promote mental and physical well-being, and create a safe and comfortable living environment. Regular cleaning and tidying are important habits to ensure a healthy and happy home.\
Comprehensive Cancer Centers Can Help
Physicians at Comprehensive Cancer Centers provide a variety of treatment options for patients with cancer, blood disorders, breast health conditions and pulmonary disease or sleep troubles. To schedule an appointment with the team at Comprehensive, please call 702-952-3350.
The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
