Poor Air Quality & Sleep

Is poor indoor air quality responsible for your lack of sleep?

Do you find yourself tossing and turning at night and struggling to get those blissful 7-8 hours of sleep? While stress, screens and an overactive mind can often be contributors, another lurking factor you haven’t considered could be the air quality in your bedroom and home.

An increasing number of studies are showing that air pollution may contribute to adverse sleep health. Poor air quality can impact breathing and the ability to initiate and maintain sleep.

Fast facts about the importance of sleep and good air quality

First, let's explore why indoor quality and good sleep are so important.

• Australians spend 80 to 100 per cent of their time indoors (at work, school, and home).
• According to Victoria Health, indoor pollutant levels can be higher than those outside.
• Over our lifetime, we sleep an average of 227,760 hours.
• During sleep, your body maintains your physical health and supports healthy brain function.
• Getting the right amount of sleep helps us to:
  • Lower the risk of sickness and serious health problems.
  • Reduce stress.
  • Improve our overall mood.
  • Think clearer and perform better.

In short, the right amount of sleep is critical for good health and quality of life!

What are you breathing while you sleep?

While we don’t want to think about it, the truth is you share your bedroom with several unwanted tenants. These include dust mites, allergens, mould and mildew spores, bacteria, and pet dander.

Then, toxic materials known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be found in household products, building and construction materials, and even flame retardants used in bedding. These can break down over time and become airborne.

All these particles and allergens can impact the quality of air you breathe and set off chain reactions in your body that can cause disrupted sleep.

How you can improve the air quality in your bedroom

The good news is that there are steps you can take to improve the air quality in your bedroom and home.

• Wash your bedding weekly.
• Vacuum your bedroom floor and mattress regularly.
• Ensure your room has adequate ventilation and natural light.
• Regulate the temperature and humidity (18-20 degrees is ideal).
• Check windows and windowsills frequently for mould and mildew.
• Keep track of the pollen count and ensure windows are closed and washing isn't done when pollen is high.
• Get an air purifier!

What to look for in an air purifier

If you take your sleep health seriously (and you should!), you don't just want any air purifier. You need an air purifier that will help you breathe the cleanest air in your home, and that requires very specific filtration, like what you find in an INOVA air purifier.

In your air purifier, you want and need:

• A HEPA Filter – You want a good quality H13 medical-grade HEPA filter to remove airborne allergens, pollutants, and particles from the air in your home.
• An Activated Carbon Filter – You need a high-capacity activated carbon filter with kilograms of carbon to filter those nasty chemical vapours from the air.

There’s a reason why INOVA is Australia’s favourite air purifier. Explore our full range below.