Living in a bustling city is an attractive lifestyle for many young professionals, but many overlook a couple of environmental hazards that come with living in a highly-populated area. If you live in a major city, be aware of these two silent killers and some precautions you can take to minimize their impact on your health.

Air Pollution

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, airborne particle matter has been linked to respiratory complications, chronic illness and cancer. Of course, you don’t have to leave the house donning an embarrassing mask like Bane from Batman to protect yourself from pollution. While not much can be done to improve the quality of the air outdoors, there are measures you can take to improve the quality of the air inside your home. Air conditioning filters and commercial air purifiers can be bought from major retailers and have been shown to successfully remove harmful airborne debris. Chances are that you spend a lot more time inside than you think, and this simple precaution can go a long way to protecting your health.

Disease

Naturally, being within close proximity of a lot of people increases your chance of catching diseases. Luckily, there are a couple of things you can do to give your immune system a fighting chance against harmful pathogens. The National Institute of Health suggests that exercising regularly can strengthen your immune system, while the Agricultural Research Service recommends increasing your intake of vitamin D—A vitamin that naturally occurs in the body when exposed to sunlight. To help prepare your body to fight against infections, adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and try to get plenty of sun.

When it comes to your health, prepare for the worst, wish for the best

An untimely death may be staved by considering these simple precautions, but death is inevitable. Few are prepared for their demise, and this can place an extreme burden on an already hurting family. Burial plots and memorial services are expensive and, often times, the deceased’s wishes are unknown. With a cemetery broker, you can alleviate as much stress as possible from your loved ones by pre-purchasing burial plots and funeral plans. After all, we prepare for many things in life but death is the only certainty. Why not prepare for that too?