February is Heart Health Month

In December 1963, President Lyndon Johnson signed a proclamation declaring February “American Heart Month.” The document specifically states “over one-half of the ten million Americans afflicted by the cardiovascular diseases are stricken during their most productive years, thereby causing a staggering physical and economic loss to the nation.” As of 2016, approximately 630,000 Americans die from heart disease each year or approximately one of every four deaths. The current economic cost to the U.S. is estimated to be 200 billion dollars each year. Billion, with a “B.” The estimate includes health costs, medications and lost productivity.
Based on studies, an easy way to improve heart health is to improve indoor air quality. Public health experts began studying indoor air pollution in the 1960s as more attention was paid to the pollutants and chemicals used in homes. There’s a reason lead paint and asbestos aren’t used anymore. The research proved a substantial connection between indoor air quality and health risks, such as coronary disease problems and stroke. 
According to the American Heart Association, half of Americans have at least one of three main risk factors known to contribute to heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol or smoking. Whether this information drives you to alter your diet or your habits, you can improve the indoor air quality for the members of your family with these simple steps:

1. Monitor humidity – deter the development of mold, a trigger of serious health problems.
2. Green up your thumb – specific houseplants can significantly “clean” your air while bringing the calming aspect of nature to your surroundings.
3. Leave your shoes at the door – don’t track the outdoors throughout your living and sleeping spaces. Leave the chemicals, pollen, dirt, and dust on the doormat.
4. Ask guests to smoke outside, if they must. Not only is this one of the most air quality protective things you can do, it’s especially important if you have children or family members with respiratory illnesses or allergies.
5. Change your air filter. A dirty air filter pushes pollutants throughout your ducts and makes your HVAC system work harder, which increases wear and tear and guzzles your energy dollars.
6. Keep your HVAC regularly maintained. Uneven heating and cooling or excessive levels of humidity can aggravate certain health conditions.  

At Energy Savers, we could easily debate if an HVAC system is a house’s “heart” or “lungs” for hours. We’re really into heating and cooling. We want to share our enthusiasm and knowledge with you by taking care of you and your home. Gift yourself improved air quality, as well as the peace of mind your HVAC system is healthy and able to reliably serve you and your family for the long term. Make a small investment in a priority service plan with Energy Savers and enjoy a range of benefits including priority scheduling, maintenance tune-ups on your heating and cooling systems and discounts on repairs.
We have four decades of experience and a team of NATE-certified technicians to assist you with all your HVAC needs. We’re proudly located in Columbus, Georgia and Opelika, Alabama and serve the surrounding communities with the best in HVAC services including installations, repairs, and maintenance.
Call us today – we want to bring our expertise to you.