Can You Get Sick From Hoarding?
Hoarding has gained attention from researchers, mental health experts, and the general public. The disorder of hoarding leads to cluttered living spaces that interfere with daily life. The effects of hoarding on mental and emotional well-being are documented thoroughly. Yet, the less-known side of hoarding is its impact on physical health.
Can you get sick from hoarding? This article will explore the consequences of hoarding and its health risk.
Trip Hazards In A Hoarders Home
One of the main health concerns related to hoarding is the risk of falls and accidents. A messy living space can create physical hazards, such as tripping over general clutter, a large amount of furniture, or excessive cabling. This will block escape routes during emergencies, which will further increasing the risk of injury. Falls or slips will result in injuries that may affect someone’s quality of life. A cluttered home makes it very difficult for emergency responders to provide quick help, making the consequences of accidents worse, even fatal.
Fire Risks In A Hoarders Home
Hoarding also creates large fire hazards. Piles of flammable materials, such as newspapers, magazines and clothing will ignite and spread flames throughout a home. The clutter will also make it hard to find the source of a fire, blocking escape routes and will make it harder for firefighters to stem the blaze. Also, smoke detectorsburied under possessions, which will make them not effective. With having both limited access and flammable materials, this could cause severe injuries, smoke inhalation and even death in a hoarded environment.
Respiratory Health Affects From Hoarding
Accumulating clutter can have serious implications for respiratory health. Mould, mildew and dust tend to thrive in moist, stagnant environments. And hoarded homes usually lack proper ventilation due to vents being blocked. This will make it very difficult for fresh air to circulate and moisture to dissipate. These conditions will create a breeding ground for allergens/irritants which can trigger or exacerbate respiratory conditions like asthma, allergies and COPD. Being exposed to these environmental hazards can lead to constant coughing, shortness of breath and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections.
Nutritional Health Affects From Hoarding
Hoarding can also affect nutritional health. Cluttered living conditions can obstruct access to the kitchen and make it challenging to prepare meals. In hoarded kitchens, expired food items and pests may also be present, this will comprise food safety. All this can contribute to a poor diet due to a lack of fresh fruits, vegetables and also balanced nutrition. Hoarders may experience deficiencies in needed nutrients, resulting in a weak immune system, fatigue and an increased susceptibility to illness.
Mental Health Affects From Hoarding
And of course, mental health. It plays a large role in the connection between hoarding and physical well-being. Hoarding disorder is often accompanied by different mental health conditions, like depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These conditions will impact someone's motivation, energy levels and the ability to engage in healthy behaviours. Emotional distress caused by hoarding will make someone have unhealthy coping mechanisms. These could be stress eating or substance abuse to name a few, which will again, compromise someone's physical health.
We all must recognise that hoarding is a complex issue that is rooted in mental health. Individuals who struggle with hoarding need compassion, understanding, and also appropriate support. Effective interventions should involve a combined approach of different professionals and strategies. This will allow the individual who is hoarding as well as the professionals working with them get to the bottom of the causes for their hoarding.
In conclusion, the environment of a hoarder's home can carry a large amount of health risks. It is imperative to keep a home safe, tidy, and sanitary to maintain someone’s health and safety. Here at Emergency Clean UK, we offer a comprehensive, understanding, and stress-free service which can get you or a loved one back on track to be safe and healthy in their home. Click the button below to view our service.