Everyday Items That Could Be Harming Your Health

You might not know it, but there could be certain items you use on a daily basis that could be putting your health at risk.

Living a healthy life isn’t just about eating right and getting exercise, says Dr. Ali Ghahary, a family physician at Brentwood Medical Clinic in Burnaby, British Columbia. It’s also about limiting your exposure to toxins – including those everyday items you’re using, such as perfumes, cleaning products, air fresheners, and even mattresses.

Cleaning products are a staple in almost every household – however, those products also contain strong chemicals, and those chemicals can pose serious risks to not just your health, but the health of your loved ones. If you have young children at home it is especially important to keep all cleaning products out of their reach – because as you know, all it takes is a split second for something to go horribly wrong. If you suspect your child has been exposed to a chemical and is exhibiting any symptoms (such a vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, irregular breathing, headache or loss of consciousness), Dr. Ali Ghahary urges you to seek immediate medical attention. You can also contact the Poison Control Centre at 1-800-567-8911 and visit their website at DPIC.org for more information. To avoid any future mishaps, there are many natural (and much less harmful) products you can use to keep your house clean, such as baking soda, soap, or even a mixture of lemon and hot water.

Do you ever wonder why your skin is always itchy and irritated? It could be because of the laundry detergent or fabric softener you’re using. Some detergents and softeners contain stronger chemicals than others, which can lead to skin irritation amongst other health problems such as headaches, respiratory problems, and even urinary tract infections. To prevent these problems from occurring, try switching to detergents and softeners that are designed with babies in mind, or use organic products that are free of phosphates, chlorines and other artificial additives.

Cosmetics can also be harmful to your health. Makeup testers (such as lipsticks), in particular, can be found at almost all major cosmetic stores – but those testers may actually be harbouring some seriously harmful bacteria, including E.coli as well as the herpes virus. If you’re dying to try that new shade of red, don’t apply it to your lips. Test it on the top of your hand, instead. It’s not just makeup itself that poses a health risk, however. Makeup brushes can also be equally as harmful as they are a cesspool for accumulation of bacteria. Not only can unclean makeup brushes clog your pores and irritate your skin, but you can also develop things like pink eye (also known as conjunctivitis), and could even get a staph infection – which can have life-altering consequences, and in some cases could even be deadly. To prevent cosmetic-related infections, Dr. Ali Ghahary and other health experts recommend replacing products such as mascara and eyeliner every 3 months, lipstick every 1 year, and eyeshadows, bronzer, concealers, foundation and blush every 1 to 2 years. Brushes should also be replaced, but if cleaned properly they can last for several years.

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