Sick Building Syndrome: What Is It And What Are Its Symptoms?
Did you know that a building can be sick and cause certain symptoms to its occupants? Today we will find out what sick building syndrome is and how it manifests itself.
The sick building syndrome has to do with a building, normally a work office, which causes discomfort and different symptoms that affect the performance and health of the people who are in it. Although we think it is a rare syndrome, in reality, it is more common than it seems.
Certain properties can cause irritation to the mucous membranes or even fatigue, thus reducing our productivity in the event that it is our workplace. This could be an isolated case, until it begins to affect more than one person who is in the same place.
The causes of sick building syndrome
The causes of sick building syndrome are difficult to expose. However, it has been studied that these can be in buildings where the air does not circulate correctly. Also those that have very small windows that prevent the property from being adequately ventilated.
However, although this may make us think that it only happens in old buildings, the truth is that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which has studied the sick building syndrome in depth, has come to the conclusion that about 30 % of modern buildings can cause this syndrome.
The WHO has also differentiated between two types of sick building that cause discomfort in its occupants. Next, we are going to see the characteristics of each one:
- Temporarily unhealthy buildings – Due to being new construction or recently refurbished. Once a certain time has passed, it stops causing the symptoms that we will talk about next.
- Permanently diseased buildings : symptoms manifest for more than a year. Despite having taken measures regarding the structure or ventilation of the building, these persist and show no signs of disappearing.
Buildings with forced ventilation or built on a low budget are believed to cause sick building syndrome. Also, airtight buildings or interior surfaces that are made of textile material can cause this syndrome.
What symptoms does sick building syndrome cause?
Now that we know what some of the causes that cause sick building syndrome may be, we are going to see the usual symptoms that people who suffer from it usually present. Some of them are the following:
- Cold or allergy symptoms. Nasal congestion or dryness, profuse mucus, itchy nose, or itchy or watery eyes.
- Throat problems. Cough, sore throat, redness, swelling, dryness, and hoarseness.
- Mental fatigue. It can present with a headache and, above all, difficulty concentrating. In some cases, drowsiness may also be present.
- Skin problems Itching of the skin may appear which may be mistaken for a possible allergy. This will be intensely itchy.
- Vertigo. In some cases, in addition to the above symptoms, vertigo or dizziness may appear accompanied by nausea.
To determine if a building is sick, an investigation will be carried out in which the noise level will be studied, if the lighting is adequate, if the vibrations produced in the vicinity affect the building and the level of humidity that there is.
Odors will also have to be analyzed. There may be air pollution due to poor ventilation. Temperature can also play a role in sick building syndrome.
Attention to psychosocial factors
The sick building syndrome can be accentuated if the work environment is not suitable. If the building has certain characteristics that may indicate that it is sick and, in addition, there is a lot of stress and pressure during working hours, this can enhance the symptoms.
Also, there are people who are much more sensitive than others and that being in a sick building may affect them more. All this must be subjected to a rigorous study to find a suitable solution.
Do you ever think you’ve suffered from sick building syndrome? If after leaving a property we feel good and our symptoms improve, but once we re-enter they get worse, we must be suspicious. Maybe we are in a building that may be sick.
