09 Feb What Are the Symptoms of Radon Poisoning?
As the second largest cause of lung cancer in the United States, it’s important to understand what radon is, what the dangers are, and what actions to take if you show signs of radon poisoning.
We also want our clients to know the dangers of radon poisoning and to understand the radon poisoning signs so that they can keep their homes and families safe and healthy.
In this blog, we will go over some of the symptoms of radon poisoning and radon exposure symptoms, how to handle radon exposure, and ways you can protect your home from radon. Staying informed about the signs of radon gas exposure and symptoms of radon gas poisoning will make it so that you can seek medical attention faster if need be and prevent exposure.
Symptoms of Radon Poisoning and Radon Exposure
Signs of radon poisoning symptoms closely resemble those of lung cancer – which is no surprise since both affect the lungs primarily. Here are symptoms you should look out for:
- A cough that won’t go away
- Trouble breathing
- Blood in mucus when coughing
- Chest pains
- Wheezing
- Frequent respiratory infections (bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.)
Additional, long-term symptoms of radon gas exposure include loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms above because not only do they indicate symptoms of radon exposure, but consistent exposure to radon can also lead to lung cancer.
Radon exposure symptoms can disguise themselves as typical cold symptoms or may seem like they are not that big of a deal. It is crucial that you seek medical attention if you start to notice these signs. If you or a family member has been exposed to radon, then follow the steps below.
What to Do if You are Exposed to Radon
Even if your home goes through radon gas mitigation to remove toxic radon gas, it can take a great deal of time for symptoms of radon gas poisoning to arrive. Health problems, including lung cancer, can arise after years of initial exposure. First, you may have an incessant cough or find that you get short of breath really easily.
You could also have blood come up when you cough, experience chest pain, or find yourself losing weight without ever really trying. While you can have your home tested for radon gas levels, there is currently no way to test if you have physically been exposed to radon. Unfortunately, there is also not a way to clean radon gas out of your body.
However, there are some actions you can take if you suspect you’ve been exposed to high levels of radon or are showing symptoms of radon gas poisoning.
- Quit smoking. Smokers who have also been exposed to radon have a much higher risk of developing lung cancer.
- See a medical professional. If you notice any of the signs above, it’s critical that you see a doctor and express your concerns. Your doctor will conduct the appropriate medical tests in order to get you back on your feet.
- Have your home tested for radon. Radon mitigation is important because it is the best method to rid your house of radon gas if your home is displaying signs of radon in your home.
Symptoms of High Radon in Your Home
The most frustrating and alarming things about radon gas are that it is impossible to discover from just your senses. Because it is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and does not stain, it shows zeros signs to inform you of its presence. Radon gas will seep its way into your home through cracks in the foundations, or gaps between pipes, or through cracked windows.
If you discover any openings like those in your home, you should be extremely cautious of potential signs of radon poisoning. It can be difficult to know if you or a family member has been exposed to radon gas, so be mindful if you start to notice symptoms of radon gas poisoning like chest pain, or a radon cough which would look like a cough that does not seem to go away.
How To Tell If Your Home Has Radon Gas
Given the fact that radon gas is invisible and has no smell, the only way to determine if your home has been infiltrated by radon gas is to go through testing. A radon gas test will determine the levels of radon gas and can determine if your home needs radon mitigation to decrease the amount in your home. A common, basic testing kit is a do-it-yourself charcoal test.
In these kits, charcoal absorbs the gas and then is evaluated at a lab to determine the exact levels in your home. Radon gas can fluctuate over time, so these tests only observe radon gas over the span of two to four days. The charcoal test kits can be obtained from a hardware store and can provide faster results so you can mitigate radon gas as quickly as possible before it does irreversible damage.
Invest in Radon Mitigation Today
Because the health risks of radon exposure are so great, it’s best to have your home tested for radon on a yearly basis, and if needed call for radon removal if those tests come back showing high levels. If your radon levels are high (above 4.0 pCi/L), a trained radon mitigation specialist will install the appropriate radon mitigation equipment.
Even if you already have existing radon mitigation equipment, we recommend that our clients have their homes tested for radon every two years or more. This ensures that your home is safe, your family is healthy, and your property records are up to date in case you sell your home. The radon fan that is installed on an active system is the only “moving” part of the system, so keep an eye out for any changes in the low humming sound of the fan motor.
If there is any kind of grinding or screeching sounds, or if the motor is no longer running at all, be sure to call a local radon company right away.
Call Your Local Radon Mitigation Company
With knowledge of radon gas and its dangers becoming more widespread, there are more and more companies that have made it their mission to educate the public and help keep people safe from this dangerous and potentially deadly gas.
Since radon gas is naturally occurring and invisible, it takes experts with knowledge and experience to test for its presence and they equipping the necessary tools to remove it. Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer, right after smoking. Keep your family safe by calling your local radon mitigation company.
If you are in Colorado, look no further than the dedicated team at American Radon, LLC. Their mission is to keep people safe and educate them about radon gas.
Talk to their friendly customer service representatives at (720) 465-1495, for radon mitigation in Denver radon mitigation in Lakewood, radon mitigation in Castle Rock and the rest of Colorado or send them an email at info@americanradonllc.com.
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