The American Lung Association reports that controlling
allergies and asthma begins at home. The EPA statistics show that levels of
many airborne pollutants can be 100 to 500 percent higher indoors than
outdoors. 50% percent of all illnesses are caused by or aggravated by polluted
indoor air. By reducing the allergens around your home that trigger attacks,
you can breathe easier and reduce your susceptibility to future episodes.
Nearly 5 million
children have asthma
Children are the most at risk, as their lungs are still in
the developmental stage. Efforts in Infancy may prevent childhood asthma. A
small child continually exposed to dust mite allergens over a long period of
time, can be susceptible to asthma later on in life.
Doctors and researchers agree that the single most important
thing that parents can do to prevent their child from developing asthma in the
first place is to eliminate or significantly reduce dust mite allergens or
asthma triggers in the home.
Up to two hundred million dust mites can infest your home at
any given time, and they can double their population in ten hours. But this
isn’t the real problem, the trouble is each dust mites can produce up to 40
pieces of feces a day and it is a protein in this refuse that research reveals
cause most allergy and asthma attacks.
Dust mites feed on tiny flakes of shed human skin cells. The
average adult sheds about 2 pounds of skin per year. This will feed millions of
dust mites. The dust mite is not what causes the problem; this lies with a
protein found in the fecal matter called Der pl. The fecal mater is lighter
than air and becomes airborne when disturbed by activity like fluffing pillows
and tossing and turning during the night.
The airborne particles are inhaled; the protein Der pI
breaks down the protective mucous lining of the eyes, nose, lungs and skin. The
allergens enter the body and cause an overreaction of the human immune system.
According to a study published by The National Institute of Environmental
Health, 46 percent of North American homes have bedding with enough dust mite
allergens to cause allergies.
About 60 percent of mites in the home are found in the
mattress, as we spend one third of our life in bed – shedding skin and feeding
dust mites. To effectively control dust mite allergens, the mattress should be
regularly cleaned, about every 6 months for allergy sufferers.
Next, attention should be given to the carpets in the
bedroom. Mites can be found here as we change clothes and prepare for the day,
all the while depositing skin on the bedroom carpet. Clean the carpets using
the hot water extraction method. For allergy sufferers, use cleaning agents
free of perfumes, phosphates, hydrocarbons and solvents, as many allergy
patients are sensitive to certain chemicals. Apply an anti-allergen
neutralizing product to the carpet to control allergens between cleanings.
The Dust mite lives for approximately 4 months producing
about 200 times it’s own body weight in excrement and laying approximately 300
eggs. Carpeting, furniture, mattresses, pillows and stuffed animals serve as
breeding grounds for dust mites and are littered with their dead bodies and
waste. As you walk across your carpet in your home, any feces in the fibers are
launched airborne and can hang around in the air for quite some time, ending up
on your eyes, nose, and even in your lungs.
The American Lung Association reports that controlling
allergies and asthma begins at home. The EPA statistics show that levels of
many airborne pollutants can be 100 to 500 percent higher indoors than
outdoors. 50% percent of all illnesses are caused by or aggravated by polluted
indoor air. By reducing the allergens around your home that trigger attacks,
you can breathe easier and reduce your susceptibility to future episodes.
Nearly 5 million
children have asthma
Children are the most at risk, as their lungs are still in
the developmental stage. Efforts in Infancy may prevent childhood asthma. A
small child continually exposed to dust mite allergens over a long period of
time, can be susceptible to asthma later on in life.
Doctors and researchers agree that the single most important
thing that parents can do to prevent their child from developing asthma in the
first place is to eliminate or significantly reduce dust mite allergens or
asthma triggers in the home.
Up to two hundred million dust mites can infest your home at
any given time, and they can double their population in ten hours. But this
isn’t the real problem, the trouble is each dust mites can produce up to 40
pieces of feces a day and it is a protein in this refuse that research reveals
cause most allergy and asthma attacks.
Dust mites feed on tiny flakes of shed human skin cells. The
average adult sheds about 2 pounds of skin per year. This will feed millions of
dust mites. The dust mite is not what causes the problem; this lies with a
protein found in the fecal matter called Der pl. The fecal matter is lighter
than air and becomes airborne when disturbed by activity like fluffing pillows
and tossing and turning during the night. The airborne particles are inhaled;
the protein Der pI breaks down the protective mucous lining of the eyes, nose,
lungs and skin. The allergens enter the body and cause an overreaction of the human
immune system. According to a study published by The National Institute of
Environmental Health, 46 percent of North American homes have bedding with
enough dust mite allergens to cause allergies.
About 60 percent of mites in the home are found in the mattress,
as we spend one third of our life in bed – shedding skin and feeding dust
mites. To effectively control dust mite allergens, the mattress should be
regularly cleaned, about every 6 months for allergy sufferers.
Next, attention should be given to the carpets in the
bedroom. Mites can be found here as we change clothes and prepare for the day,
all the while depositing skin on the bedroom carpet. Clean the carpets using
the hot water extraction method. For allergy sufferers, use cleaning agents free
of perfumes, phosphates, hydrocarbons and solvents, as many allergy patients
are sensitive to certain chemicals. Apply an anti-allergen neutralizing product
to the carpet to control allergens between cleanings.
The Dust mite lives for approximately 4 months producing
about 200 times it’s own body weight in excrement and laying approximately 300
eggs. Carpeting, furniture, mattresses, pillows and stuffed animals serve as
breeding grounds for dust mites and are littered with their dead bodies and
waste. As you walk across your carpet in your home, any feces in the fibers are
launched airborne and can hang around in the air for quite some time, ending up
on your eyes, nose, and even in your lungs.
