In honor of January being National Radon Action Month, Oakland County encourages residents to take action and test their homes for radon by offering radon test kits half-price ($5) all month.
What is radon you ask? Radon is a naturally occurring invisible, odorless, and tasteless gas that is usually harmless outdoors. It is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall.
As the temperatures turn colder, many of us are spending more time indoors. Colds, flu and other respiratory illnesses are more common in colder months. People are inside more often, allowing viruses to pass easily from one person to another. And the cold, dry air may help them spread. In addition, holidays are coming up when many of us will gather with family, friends, co-workers and loved ones.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults. It’s the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in children younger than age one in the United States.
Watch now as Dr. Calandra Green, Oakland County Health Officer, and Dr. Russell Faust, Oakland County Medical Director, discuss RSV and how you can protect yourself and others: