Importance of Killing Dust Mites
According to the Expert Panel Guidelines for managing asthma, the best way to take control of allergic asthma is to make your environment as allergen-free as you can. If dust mites are one of your allergic triggers, then it's important to take steps aimed at eliminating dust mites. There will be immediate benefits, but you also need to accept that total control of dust mites is unrealistic. Chances are, no matter how hard you try to get rid of dust mites, there will always be some present that may trigger your asthma symptoms from time to time. It seems dust always finds a way to settle in under the bed or on top of your ceiling fan blades.
Still, you can take actions to reduce the number of dust mites in your environment. When you take them, it will help you stay healthier and in control, so that asthma doesn't keep you from living the lifestyle you want.
Tips on How to Get Rid of Dust Mites
House dust is not just dirt. It contains tiny particles of both plant and animal material. Even tinier spider-like creatures called dust mites live in house dust and feed on the plant/animal material in it. And, in turn, they leave droppings which contain a protein that can trigger allergy symptoms and asthma symptoms year-round in sensitive people. Dust mites are one of the most common indoor allergens.
To work on eliminating dust mites, you need to understand where to find them. They may reside almost anywhere, but they tend to prefer either warm, humid areas or places where human skin flakes are shed in large numbers, such as in bedding. Here are some tips for killing dust mites:
- Reduce humidity indoors. You can use either a humidifier or an air conditioner to keep humidity low. The goal is to keep it under 50%.
- Get rid of wall-to-wall carpeting. Carpet, especially when laid over concrete sub-flooring, often harbors dust mites. Wood or tile floors are better. Throw rugs or area rugs can be used if they are washed in hot water or dry cleaned on a regular basis.
- Encase your bedding in allergen-proof covers. You can get the most bang for your buck with eliminating dust mites in the bedroom. Buy zippered pillow and mattress covers; they'e easy to find these days in many department and discount stores.
- Wash bedding in hot water frequently. Hot water, at least 130 F, should be used to wash bedding on a weekly basis. Dry the linens in a hot dryer (not outdoors, where they could collect pollen and mold spores).
- Vacuum floors and upholstered furniture using a HEPA-filter equipped vacuum cleaner. You may also want to wear a mask to further protect yourself from any dust that may be stirred up by vacuuming.
- Remove stuffed toys and dolls, as well as knicknacks from the home. If you have kids, this can be hard. But dust mites love to live in stuffed things, where human and pet dander tend to accumulate. They'll also nest on the surfaces of collectibles and plant leaves.
You are probably starting to see how challenging it can be to control dust mites. But, any progress you can make will help, especially in your bedroom and main living areas, where you spend most of your time. Chances are, you'll still need to take allergy medicine and asthma medicine. But hopefully, learning how to get rid of dust mites will enable you to use your rescue inhaler much less often. And after all, isn't is worth it to make the effort if it allows you to live a life without limits?
Sources:
"Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma." NHLBI Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Asthma. 28 Aug 2007. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. 18 Dec. 2007 <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.pdf>
"Tips to remember: indoor allergens." 2007. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. 27 June 2008
