There are millions of tiny creatures living in your home at this very moment, feasting on dead skin cells and flourishing in warm, humid climates. These small troublemakers, also known as dust mites, are not visible to the naked eye but cause serious health issues for millions of households globally. They can reproduce at an alarming rate in bedding, carpets, and upholstered furniture, transforming your cozy home into a biting territory.
These stubborn allergens both initiate asthma attacks and create chronic respiratory illnesses that rob children and adults of a restful night’s sleep. Many people have allergic reactions whose sources they cannot understand, but they do not know that the invisible cause of their suffering is dust mites.
Although getting rid of them can be difficult, there are ways to control them to help decrease their numbers and reduce health risks. When at-home remedies are not adequate to create a healthier living environment, professional pest control services are able to offer targeted treatments. This page will guide you on how to protect yourself from dust bites easily.
How Are They Harmful to You?
Respiratory System Damage
Allergens from dust mites are known to attack the respiratory system, our airways and lung tissues, which can make them become irritated, inflamed, cough, and swollen. When breathed in, these tiny particles stimulate the release of histamine, causing the nasal passages to swell and breathing to become tight. Long-term exposure can lead to chronic bronchitis and decreased lung function.
Asthma Complications
People with asthma suffer from dust mites more than any other allergic group because the pests can cause fatal attacks. Studies have shown that 85% of asthmatics test positive for dust mite allergies. Proteins from the waste of dust mites, which come from living on dead flakes of skin, can cause bronchial tubes to tighten, making it very hard to breathe and requiring treatment.
Skin Irritation and Eczema
Dust mites exacerbate allergies and cause other types of skin irritations. Their allergens also irritate skin and cause contact dermatitis – red, itchy patches that, if scratched, can become infected. Children with eczema have worse flares in homes with high dust mite populations, poorer sleep, and quality of life.
Sleep Quality Disruption
Being exposed to dust mites at night results in poor quality sleep, leading to daytime fatigue. Allergy symptoms are most severe during sleeping periods when individuals are in close contact with infested bedding for prolonged hours. And this causes frequent awakening, mouth breathing, morning congestion, and striving for the optimal amount of sleep, affecting concentration and productivity.
Weakened Immune System
With constant exposure to these allergens, the immune system must stay in a state of high alert. This chronic inflammation makes it harder for your body and your immune system to fight off other infections and diseases. Eventually, the continued allergy response will lead to other sensitivities and autoimmune problems.
How to Protect Yourself From Dust Mites?
Control Humidity Levels
Use a dehumidifier and rely on efficient ventilation to help keep indoor humidity below 50%. Dust mites can not survive in dry places, so humidity control is your best ally. Air condition during the hot months, and promote airflow in your home to make it inhospitable to mite reproduction.
Implement Regular Cleaning Practices
Wash bed linens in water that is hot, with a temperature of at least 130°F, once a week to get rid of dust mites and wash away evidence of allergies. Home Vacuum carpets and furniture twice a week with filter vacuums that retain microscopic particles. Pay attention to where people spend the most time, such as bedrooms and the living areas.
Use Protective Barriers
Enclose mattresses, pillows, and box springs in covers constructed of a tightly woven fabric or plastic material that is allergen-impermeable. These barriers prevent dust mites from reaching their preferred food source, but they also keep the mites from escaping and dying. Then, change the covers every several years to keep them effective and strong.
