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They say that home is where the heart is. But what you may not know is that it’s also where 65% of colds and more than half of food-borne illnesses are contracted. The things we do around the house every day have a big impact on both our long- and short-term health.  Here are six common household activities that may be making you sick!

1. Using a Sponge- kitchen sponge commonly carries E. coli and fecal bacteria, as well as many other microbes. “It’s the single dirtiest thing in your kitchen, along with a dishrag!

Solution...dipping sponges into a solution of bleach and water before wiping down surfaces.

2. Vacuuming- vacuum cleaners are intended to pick up and retain big pieces of dirt, like the dust bunnies we see floating about on our floors. But it’s the tiny dust particles that pass right through the porous vacuum bags and up into the air.

Solution...Look for a vacuum cleaner with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter

3. Sleeping With Pillows and a Mattress-The average person sheds about 1.5 million skin cells per hour and perspires one quart every day even while doing nothing, says Tierno. The skin cells accumulate in our pillows and mattresses and dust mites grow and settle.

Solution...  Cover your mattress, box springs, and pillows with impervious outer covers.

4. Grilling Meat-Barbecuing meat creates the cancer-causing compounds polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines (HCAs).

Solution…Limiting your outdoor cooking, using tin foil, or microwaving the meat first is a sensible precaution

5. Opening Your Windows-When the weather turns nice, many of us throw open our windows to breathe in the fresh spring air. But that may be an unhealthy move, considering the combination of seasonal allergies and poor air quality of many cities throughout the U.S. According to a recent report by the American Lung Association, 60% of Americans are breathing unhealthy air.

Solution.. Shut the windows and run the air conditioner. All air-conditioning systems have a filter that protects the mechanical equipment and keeps them clean of debris.

6. Sitting in Front of the TV-Sitting in front of the television has become a national pastime and one of our least healthy behaviors, particularly because we often do it while snacking on food that is high in calories.

Solution...  Turn off the TV, put away the bag of chips, and go for a walk.

We ALL do these habits so just tips on habits we think are correct could be making us sick or unhealthy. For more log on to http://www.webmd/allegeries/livingwithallergies

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