Dust Mite Induced Asthma and Its Prevention

I am going to talk to you today, about dust mites and their role in causing Asthma attacks and allergies.

The tips that I am going to give you today will go a long way in preventing asthma and help you lead a healthy asthma and allergy free life.

Dust mites are tiny little creatures which cause a huge impact on one’s health and which are invisible to the naked eye and can only be viewed under a microscope. You cannot see them but they are always there inducing allergy in allergic prone people. Dust mites are white in color and have eight legs instead of six so they are classed as arthropods. They are named so because they are an integral component of dust no matter how clean you try to keep your house.

Imagine thousands of these mites crawling around in your bed, your sofas and even your stuffed toys.

The thought is enough to give you goose bumps and yet it is true. Dust mites thrive in almost any environment except Antarctica. So unless you live on the frozen ice caps of Southern pole, there’s no escaping them. They can sustain well in temperatures of 68 to 77 Fahrenheit and in relative humidity of 70 to 80 percent. They die when humidity levels fall below 40 to 50 percent so they cannot exist in dry environments.

The dust mite doesn’t have any eyes or a respiratory system. It leads a short miserable life of about 2 to 4 months and spends its life moving about, eating and spewing out waste product. A female can lay as many as a hundred eggs in her lifetime and it takes 2 to 5 weeks for a mite to develop from an egg to adult.

A dust mite hasn’t got any demanding requirements. You will be surprised to know that it feeds off tiny fragments of skin which human beings shed every day. We humans can shed 1.5 grams of skin a day and the dust mites’ feast on this organic matter. Apart from that, if you view your house under a microscope, the spit, sweat and organic matter that gets accumulated every day presents a horrifying picture. These materials are just the ideal breeding ground for dust mites.

We should know how this minute creature can cause allergic reactions and especially asthma so that we can take preventive measures. As already described that the dust mites feed off organic matter like skin flakes and body hair etc, they digest it and produce waste material. This waste contains a protein called allergen which causes allergic reaction in most people. The horrific fact about a dust mite is that it can produce waste up to 200 times its body weight!

Imagine lying on a carpet or a mattress which is crawling with thousands of dust mites. If you are an asthmatic, you will be left gasping for air as soon as you come in contact with these little devils. It is not only the waste they produce but the mites themselves have certain proteins in their exoskeletons which can cause allergic reactions. People start to itch and wheeze once they come in contact with the mites and their skin develops red spots. They can also leave you with a runny nose so any inexplicable outbreak should ring a bell in your head that it might be induced by dust mites.

A question must be nagging you that if there are dust mites in your house, is your house clean or not? Let me tell you that your house might be the cleanest house in the world and it can still have dust mites. The reason is because these creatures are mostly found deeply buried in your carpets, mattresses and upholstery. No matter how much you use the vacuum cleaner, you will not be able to eliminate the mites completely. There are ways however to lessen the effect of dust mites.

The first step you can take to get rid of these creatures is to install a dehumidifier in your house. Set the dehumidifier at a level of 55 percent which will cause the death of these dust mites.

If you are fond of keeping pets and are faced with a dilemma whether to keep them and keep suffering from asthma, you don’t have to worry anymore. Install a HEPA Air Cleaner in your house so that it keeps the air clean of any animal droppings or their hair. Usually the safest option is to keep the animal out of the house.

Nowadays there are zip covers available for cushions, mattresses and sofas which have anti allergen protection. These clothes have got special pores inside them which do not allow the dust mites to pass and reside in their favorite sanctuaries.

Until Next time, I wish you and yours only the very best of health!

Disclaimer

It is important to note that information contained in this post is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Any questions regarding a medical diagnosis or treatment should be directed to a medical practitioner.