The EPA estimates that indoor air quality can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Considering we spend up to 90% of our time indoors, indoor pollution can threaten your health – and the health of everyone in your family.

The single most effective way to keep the air in your home healthy and pollution free is to keep things that cause them – cigarettes, chemicals and excess moisture – out.

The second most important strategy is to ventilate your house often. Run the exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen, open your windows, and make sure all your appliances’ exhaust systems are working properly.

The following are some tips from the American Lung Association to promote healthy breathing.

1. Know the deadliest pollutants – Carbon monoxide, cigarette smoke (which also contains carbon monoxide), and Radon gas.

2. Test for radon. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and scientists estimates that radon causes thousands of deaths annually. Testing is easy an inexpensive and getting rid of radon may save your life.

3. Use low-voc paints. Paints release trace amounts of gases for months after application – even when the smell is gone. These gases are called VOC’s or volatile organic compounds and include highly toxic chemicals.

4. Fix leaks. Rain and high humidity can cause moisture to collect indoors, creating dampness, which mold and mildew thrive in. Even dampness alone, without mold, is associated with higher risk of wheezing, coughing and asthma symptoms.

5. Clean your air conditioner filter and dehumidifier. These are safe havens for dust mites, one of the common triggers that can worsen asthma, use them when needed, but make sure to clean both regularly.