If you think big business cares about your wellbeing, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to show you.
Because when it comes to corporate America, it’s ALL about the bottom line.
And if raising that number means cutting corners, or looking the other way, so be it. After all, they have investors to satisfy and big bonuses to dole out.
Beware of these hidden dangers in your home
But surely, no company would sell you something that it knew could KILL you without BIG warnings, right?
WRONG!
Which is why I can almost guarantee you have at least one of these three killers in your home right now. And that you likely had no clue just how bad these hidden dangers could actually be.
1. Old prescriptions:
Maybe you ended up with a refill you didn’t need after all. Or perhaps you didn’t finish a course of meds for some reason.
Whatever the cause you now have some old prescription drugs squirreled away in your medicine cabinet. And it turns out they could be hidden dangers.
But here’s the thing, holding on to old meds “for a rainy day” isn’t just a bad idea, it could be downright deadly. And disposing of them the wrong way could cause harm too.
The drug could interact with something else you’re taking. And expired prescriptions pose even more of a threat.
The drugs begin to break down and change just like any other chemical. Which means they can react differently—and possibly even dangerously—in your system.
If you have old drugs in your medicine cabinet, there are two approved ways to dispose of them.
- The best solution is to ask your doctor or pharmacist if there’s a local drug take-back center in your area.
- If necessary, you can stir your old pills into coffee grounds, kitty litter, or some other gross trash, and put it all into a zippered baggie and drop into the garbage.
Be sure to black out all identifying information on the original pill bottles before tossing them, too. And never flush old medications unless explicitly told to. They could end up in the water supply.
2. Aspirin:
It’s not just prescription meds that can be hidden dangers in your home. Over-the-counter drugs can pose a threat too.
Take aspirin for example. Most people think of the drug as mild and safe. Yet thousands of folks accidentally overdose and die from aspirin alone every single year.
It’s often “hidden” in other OTC products. And even when you look at labels, it’s not always easy to identify. Which makes it easy to take too much.
And aspirin’s side effects such as internal bleeding skyrocket with higher doses.
But keep in mind if your doctor has you taking a daily aspirin, you shouldn’t just go cold turkey. That can be dangerous too. Talk to him about helping you to wean yourself off them.
Meanwhile, make sure you’re not getting more than that one dose. Check labels for acetylsalicylic acid, found in some headaches meds, or the natural form of aspirin, methyl salicylate, often found in topical pain relievers and patches.
For headaches caffeine, butterbur, and even peppermint tea are effective alternatives. And for aches and pains try turmeric, fish oil, or a topical product with menthol or capsaicin.
3. Bleach and ammonia:
Most chemical cleaners are risky, to begin with.
Take the bleach you use on your toilet, for example. Inhaling its fumes can cause tissue damage to your eyes and lungs. And that ammonia you use on your faucets? Inhaling those fumes can damage your esophagus and cause respiratory distress.
But when you combine ammonia and bleach dangerous can quickly turn deadly. Together they create a chlorine gas that could kill you within minutes. And since either can be an ingredient in other cleaning products, accidentally combining them is easy to do.
Other chemical cleansers can be hidden dangers too. Drain cleaners, oven cleaners, even scouring powders can all become deadly.
Try using baking soda, vinegar, or lemon juice instead. All three make very effective cleaners—alone or in combination—and are perfectly safe to use.
For most of us, our home is our sanctuary. But don’t make the mistake of assuming it’s always a safe haven from the world. Keep your eyes open for these and other hidden dangers.
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