Firstword

Don’t be homesick

by MANOJ Khatri

Homesickness is a state of distress caused by severe feelings of nostalgia, usually the result of separation from an individual’s home environment. When we feel homesick, feelings of sadness envelop us. The term is ironical because it refers to sickness that arises out of staying away from home. But have you ever thought about sickness that is caused by staying in homes?

Don’t be surprised. There is sufficient amount of scientific evidence, backed by research, that there exists a clear correlation between our health and the spaces we inhabit. Our living spaces, our homes, affect us much more than we recognise. From the colours on the walls to the layout of the spaces, from the way the furniture is placed to the sources of ventilation, from illumination points to the extent of indoor and outdoor pollution, from noise levels to the clutter around us — everything affects our physical, mental and emotional health, and consequently the quality of our life.

Because they are so critical to our health, we ought to give our living spaces the importance they deserve.

In this issue, eight writers — most of them experts — turn their attention to home-related health hazards. Their stories explore the various linkages between our living spaces and our health. As you read these stories, “homesickness” may assume a new connotation for you.

We urge you to not just read but also try the suggestions offered in our thoroughly-researched articles. Then, if you notice your health improving as a result of these changes, write to us. We would be delighted to publish your experiences in our subsequent issues.

7th April is World Health Day, so we interviewed Alexander von Hildebrand, Regional Advisor at the World Health Organization [WHO] about how we can protect our health from the impact of climate change. Since Planet Earth is the home of humanity, let us together keep it healthy and fit for habitat — so that none of us ever feel homesick.

Stay Well.