Lighting candles is a common habit for those who like to leave the house with a lower lighting. The light of the fire makes the environment calmer and also relaxing, so it is often used in spas. But, is the candle harmful to respiratory health?

According to professor Carolina Polido, coordinator of the Nursing course at Estácio, paraffin combustion releases some chemical compounds that can worsen or aggravate respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, rhinitis, and other allergies: "We can't forget that it's a toxic product, so the ideal is to always place the candle in a well-ventilated environment," she says.

Because it is toxic, it is always necessary to pay attention to the place where the candle will be lit. Of course, with a lot of wind, the candle will go out. However, don't leave it in a totally closed place so as not to risk intoxication.

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Attention when lighting more than one candle. Keep a safe distance between them so that the flames don't get too close. Otherwise, the heat and the fire increase, and this can cause complications in respiratory diseases. For those who have a more aggressive type of these problems, it is best to avoid the habit.

Accident-free candle lighting

In addition, care must be taken to avoid accidents with the item! Thus, Polido recommends placing the candle on some support so that the object doesn't fall, tip over, create fire in the furniture or even a fire: "We should never place the candle under closets, under sheets or beds, in places where fire can spread", he says.

Finally, the coordinator indicates to avoid sleeping with the candles lit, so there is no risk of falling. On the other hand, don't place the candles in extremely high places either, because if they fall, it will be difficult to contain the fire quickly.