December 7th, 2024

Better air quality is the easiest way not to die (2021)

Improving air quality can enhance health and longevity, with measures like air purifiers and avoiding pollutants crucial for reducing risks from particulate matter, which can significantly shorten life expectancy.

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Better air quality is the easiest way not to die (2021)

Better air quality is a crucial yet often overlooked factor in improving health and longevity. Research indicates that addressing air quality can yield significant health benefits with minimal effort compared to other lifestyle changes. For instance, living in polluted areas like Delhi can reduce life expectancy by three years, while commuting in polluted environments can also have detrimental effects. The article emphasizes the importance of monitoring air quality and suggests practical steps to improve indoor air, such as using air purifiers, avoiding incense and aerosols, and being cautious with cooking smoke. It highlights the dangers of particulate matter (PM2.5), which can lead to serious health issues, including lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The article also discusses the concept of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) as a measure of health loss due to air pollution, noting that chronic exposure to high levels of particulates can significantly shorten life expectancy. Overall, improving air quality is presented as a straightforward and effective health intervention that can be prioritized over more complex lifestyle changes.

- Improving air quality can significantly enhance health and longevity.

- Living in polluted areas can drastically reduce life expectancy.

- Practical measures to improve indoor air quality include using air purifiers and avoiding incense.

- Particulate matter (PM2.5) poses serious health risks, including cardiovascular disease.

- Monitoring air quality is essential for personal health management.

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By @leobg - 5 months
Written by a guy. Misses the most obvious remedy: Regular vacuuming.

(And since that isn’t as cool as shopping for a particle counter, I guess the number of HN readers who will happily die a few days earlier is going to be much higher than the comment section would suggest. Ray Kurzweil happily downs his pills in order to live forever. But I doubt he vacuums his bedroom. Just doesn’t go that well with the whole futuristic life hacker theme. ;))

By @declan_roberts - 5 months
I read a post like this, and what the proscription is and my first thought is "no thanks, I'll just die when it's my time."
By @aaron695 - 5 months
A really good blog post. Most you should know, smoke bad, worth a read of you're new to it.

This is what I found most interesting,

> Humidifiers: You’re not going to like this, but ultrasonic humidifiers produce huge numbers of particles.

I use a ultrasonic diffuser because burning bad.

I wonder how it compares to stick diffusers ( wooden stick in a pot of oils ) or other options.