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From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Homes: How Our Understanding of Ventilation Has Evolved

09/03/2026

Jenny Danson

When we talk about healthy homes today, ventilation often feels like a technical detail – trickle vents, extract fans, MVHR systems and air quality monitors. But ventilation, at its core, is about something far more fundamental: breath, health and life itself. 

In their 2023 paper, Rebecca F D’Cruz and Nicholas Hart explore the history of mechanical ventilation through a clinical lens, tracing how our understanding of breathing support has evolved over centuries. Their work offers valuable lessons not just for healthcare, but for how we think about ventilation in the home today. 

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