Could your home be making you sick?

Constant fatigue, headaches, recurring upper respiratory infections. Do these symptoms sound familiar to you? If you are experiencing ongoing symptoms of some mysterious illness you may not be a hypochondriac at all -- your home may be making you sick.

It may be hard to believe that the place you call your sanctuary actually could be the breeding ground for unseen germs and other dangers, but there are many potential pathogens that could be taking up residence alongside you and your family.

Kitchen

The kitchen is one area of the home that could be teeming with microscopic invaders. According to researchers at New York University, the dirtiest place in the entire home is the kitchen sink. From discarded pieces of food to raw juices from meat, the kitchen sink comes in contact with many different substances, all of which may harbor bacteria. One may think that water constantly running in the sink would clean it effectively. This is not the case. Use a germicide or a bleach-and-water solution and a brush to scrub down the sink a few times a week. Do not use a sponge used for washing dishes; otherwise you can transfer bacteria to silverware and plates, risking infection.

Kitchen sponges should be discarded after about a week of use. However, if you are environmentally minded, the only ways to effectively kill bacteria hiding in porous sponges is to microwave them on high for a minute or run them through a dishwasher cycle.

Building materials

Unless you have purchased a new home and were involved with the building process, it could be difficult to know which building materials were used to construct your home. Certain materials once deemed safe are now banned. If your home was built between 1920 and 1978, there may be asbestos in the home. It was primarily used as an insulating material. Although asbestos in small amounts may not be harmful, breathing in high levels of asbestos over an extended period of time may increase your risk for cancer and respiratory ailments.

Lead is also commonly found in older homes. Lead was a main component of paints in the past. Some homes even feature lead water pipes. Young children are highly susceptible to lead poisoning. The Environmental Protection Agency says that nearly 900,000 American children suffer from lead poisoning each year.

Certain adhesives, carpets, vinyl materials, and varnishes can give off VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. Products that you use in your home every day emit gases that may be harmful, both right away and after extended exposure. These may cause anything from nose and throat irritation to memory loss.

Allergens

Water is a necessity to sustain life on this planet. While water can have many different positive attributes, water is also the culprit in helping to breed potentially dangerous organisms in and around the house.

Water damage around the house may foster the growth of mold and other organisms. Inhaling mold spores can trigger allergies or increase the risk of illness. Insects and rodents also tend to gravitate to moist areas of the home, and waste from pests may lead to respiratory ailments and other serious conditions.

You can prevent many illnesses in the home by addressing any underlying water issues. Fix leaks and use a dehumidifier to dry out the interior of the home.

Chemicals

Home-cleaning products, pesticides, fertilizers and paints can each contribute to unhealthy air in the home. These items may also cause irritation to the eyes and skin. Look for alternatives to harsh chemicals in your household to limit the amount of items that could be polluting your living spaces.

Many people assume illnesses are the result of outside factors. However, there are many things lurking inside the home that can contribute to myriad health symptoms.