The environment a person calls home can shape both mental and physical well-being. For instance, residents on the ground floor may experience higher risks of respiratory illness and weaker immunity, while those living higher up often report more anxiety, headaches, and fluctuations in blood pressure and pulse. This perspective is supported by a clinician from the Medical On clinic in Novosibirsk, who discussed the findings with socialbites.ca.
The specialist pointed out that the danger on lower floors, especially the first and second, stems from nearby basements where mold and fungal growth can thrive. Added exposures include vehicle exhaust and heating emissions at building entrances, along with dust and asphalt fumes in hot weather, all of which can contribute to health problems.
“Such exposures are dangerous because the body struggles to detoxify these potent agents without harming health,” the therapist warned.
The clinician explained that carbon monoxide, aldehydes, sulfur dioxide, hydrocarbons, and various heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can enter the respiratory tract of residents on lower floors, cling to skin, hair, and clothing, and linger in footwear.
All of these factors raise the risk of pulmonary issues, chronic ear, nose, and throat conditions, and body-wide allergic responses, such as atopic dermatitis, vasomotor rhinitis, and asthma. In addition, long-term exposure on lower floors is linked to reduced immunity and more frequent, prolonged respiratory infections, along with persistent fatigue and weakness, he noted.
According to the clinician, upper floors – particularly the seventh floor and higher – pose different dangers, mainly from industrial smoke and electromagnetic radiation emitted by nearby enterprises.
Very tall buildings, especially those at the twenty-fifth floor and above, bring concerns about air conditioning effects, including consistently dry air and shifts in air composition as well as limited natural ventilation when windows cannot be opened. There is also the issue of higher vibrations from rapid elevator movements, along with low-frequency infrasonic waves and atmospheric pressure changes that can accompany rapid ascents.
These conditions may trigger panic attacks, sleep disturbances, anxiety disorders, headaches, and upper respiratory infections, potentially affecting vascular tone, blood pressure regulation, heart rate, and even abdominal discomfort. The expert suggests that living arrangements on mid-range floors could strike a healthier balance, with floors ranging from the third to the seventh commonly recommended for well-being.
In addition to structural and environmental factors, the quality of indoor air and ventilation plays a crucial role in health outcomes. Ensuring regular airflow and reducing exposure to indoor pollutants can help support immune function and overall vitality, particularly for individuals with preexisting sensitivities.
Food for thought: while building height and location influence exposure levels, a practical approach includes choosing living spaces with good ventilation, monitoring indoor air quality, and taking steps to mitigate mold growth in basements and lower levels. The goal is to create living environments that support stable mood, balanced physiology, and resilient health over time.
It is important to note that hair care and scalp conditions, such as irregular combing patterns, do not have a direct link to living height and are not a factor in the health assessments described here. These observations are not intended to diagnose conditions but rather to highlight how housing-related factors may impact well-being. (Citation: Medical On clinic, Novosibirsk)