CO2 and Sleep
Human beings benefit from fresh oxygen rich air while we sleep. Circulate that carbon dioxide out of here with thoughtfully placed — heat recovering — filtration.
A good night’s sleep is critical for learning, memory, mental health, metabolism, immune response and tissue repair. A fresh supply of oxygen is key to a good night’s sleep. Sleep is an often undervalued and all too costly part of human productivity and overall performance.
As building quality gets better, our homes are getting more airtight. Without the right filtration and ventilation system we see a gradual build-up of carbon dioxide (CO2) as we deplete the oxygen supply.
Carbon dioxide is colourless, odorless and tasteless, we often don’t notice its accumulation, even a low build up can cause drowsiness and is dangerous in high concentration.
Too much carbon dioxide while you sleep causes headaches and other ill effects when you wake up. Symptoms like those of sick building syndrome — common in poorly ventilated public or office environments — ill for no apparent reason, headache, shortness of breath or eye irritations. Symptoms that disappear quickly after departing the building or space. Sick building syndrome is bad news for work performance and is being recognised as a highly costly ‘hidden’ illness.
Sleep quality and carbon dioxide concentration has been an interest of health researchers for some time. Measured along with next day mental performance those in low carbon dioxide sleeping environments perform significantly better.
Carbon dioxide toxicity is no joke and an important consideration when deciding to install filtration system. Often areas like bedrooms are overlooked as important areas for filtration and clean fresh air.
- 250 to 400 ppm is considered the background normal (outside).
- 400 to 1000 ppm is what’s typically found in occupied spaces with a good exchange of air.
- 1000 to 2000 ppm this level is associated with drowsiness and a sense of stale air.
- 2000 to 5000 ppm is where we start to associate headaches, sleepiness, a sense of stuffy air. It is also associated with poor concentration, attention, increase in heart rate and even nausea may be noticed.
- 5000 ppm indicates air conditions were high-level of other gases could be present. This is where we begin to observe dangerous level toxicity or oxygen deprivation.
- 40,000 ppm is immediately harmful due to oxygen deprivation.
As with all chemicals everyone’s reaction is different, these ppm should only be considered as guidelines.
Ventilation does a great job removing carbon dioxide from bedrooms and more importantly introducing oxygen rich fresh air to our bodies while we sleep. An oxygen rich sleep leads to a better next day, cognitive performance and productivity, especially in schools or offices. With the added bonus of recovering heat, making sure we are snug as a bug in a well-ventilated rug.