Dust mites are tiny, invisible insects that live in fibers on carpeting, plush furniture, curtains, mattresses, pillows and bedding. Yikes!! Unlike spiders or ticks, dust mites are not visible to the naked eye and do not bite or transmit disease. The average adult sheds two pounds of dead skin per year; much of it while sleeping. Dust mites live in bedding and mattresses and eat these flakes of skin. They prefer warm, humid environments. Why should we be concerned about dust mites? Dust mite allergen is a very potent allergic trigger for some asthmatics. FACT: Over 50% of all allergic asthmatics are sensitive to house dust mites. Find out if you are allergic to dust mites. Talk to your Allergist or Immunologist about allergy testing. If you test positive for dust mite allergy, take steps to reduce dust mites in your home. With an average of eight hours of sleep nightly, the bedroom is the most frequently inhabited room in your home, and is a good first place to stop. Dust Mite Reduction Tips: If your carpeting is new, it will shed and give off gases for a long time. If it’s older, chances are there is a lot of permanent dirt and dust embedded in the carpet that you just cannot vacuum out. Dust mites burrow into the carpet and hold on fast with little sucking pads on the ends of their legs, so it’s virtually impossible to vacuum the live ones out. Regular, professional carpet cleaning is a must. Where you sleep is where the dust mites are: in your mattress and pillow. It’s a good idea to encase your mattress and box-spring in zippered, allergy-proof covers. Breathable covers are more comfortable than plastic ones, which can be hot and sticky in warm weather. If there is more than one bed in the room, all should be encased. These covers are often available from home care companies, pharmacies, or medical device stores. Perhaps the most important factor in the control of mite growth is humidity. If your home is air tight, then a sufficient ventilation system should be installed, such as a heat exchanger. In warmer, humid areas of the country, air conditioning should be used in the summer to reduce mite and mold growth.
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