Text Box: Dust Mites Share Our Beds The most common place to find house dust mites is in our beds! We shed approximately 1kg of skin a month in our beds, and we spend up to eight hours a day there, producing about a 50ml of water in sweat, which causes the relative humidity to remain at a high level. House dust mites can also be found in carpets, sofas and clothing which is used by the mites as a means of transportation from room to room. If sites like mattresses and pillows that accumulate skin scales are not cleaned often and thoroughly the mite populations can build up over many years. Over 85% of asthmatics are sensitive to the house dust mite, making it one of the primary triggers of asthma attacks. The main trigger is allergens in the faucal pellets, which mites excrete and which build up in soft furnishings, such as bedding, sofas carpets or curtains. Vigorous activity, such as vacuuming, dusting, or even walking of soft furnishings can make the dust mites' faeces become airborne. Dust mites are smaller than the full stop at the end of this sentence. We inevitably inhale these particles and people who are sensitive to dust mites will suffer an allergic reaction.   Dust Mites, Breathing Difficulties and Shortness of Breath Dust mites live for about 3 months and produce around 2000 faucal pellets each, containing digestive enzymes. Many people are allergic to these enzymes. More people react to the dust mite than any other form of allergens. Over 85% of asthmatics react to them. If exposure to the dust mites continues over a long time the muscles in our airways change shape and become less flexible, usually referred to as remodeling. When this happens, an allergic response causes spasm, but takes longer for the muscles to relax allowing normal breathing - the wheezing and shortness of breath associated with an asthma attack. In short, the house dust mite allergen plays a major part in the development of allergic asthma. Dust Mites and Bedding Most of the dust mites in your house live in your mattress. It’s an ideal environment for both warmth and moisture from your body heat and perspiration. Effective treatment has 2 stages - removal of the allergen reservoir, then killing of the dust mites to prevent the allergens from building up again. Allergen avoidance is a continuous process. Dust mites will grow back and a good treatment regime should be repeated every 3 months. In the meantime, Turn back the bedclothes during the day and leave the windows open if possible. Cleaning your mattresses at least every 3 months is an effective way to reduce the allergen level, especially for the mattresses.

WHO IS SHARING YOUR BED WITH YOU TONIGHT ?

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