You can’t see dust mites, but they cause a world of misery for millions of people with allergies. Dust mite allergy is the most common year-round allergy in the world, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University.

So what are dust mites, exactly? Technically speaking, they’re microscopic insects that live on food particles and the tiny bits of skin we all constantly shed. Dust mites live in dust, and no matter how often you clean your house, nearly everything is covered with a fine layer of dust. Dust mites hide in pillows, bedding, upholstered furniture, carpets, and stuffed animals, among other things. They like warmth and humidity, and thrive in summertime.

If you have dust mite allergy, you’re actually reacting to the mites’ waste products, which get stirred up when you walk on your carpet or sit on your upholstered furniture. You know those tiny particles you see floating in a shaft of sunlight? You guessed it. When you breathe in these tiny droppings, that’s when the trouble begins.

People who are allergic to dust mites are often sensitive to other airborne allergens, such as animal dander and mold spores. Symptoms of respiratory allergies include:

• Sneezing and coughing
• Runny nose or nasal congestion
• Itchy eyes, nose, and throat
• Watery, irritated eyes (conjunctivitis)

Dust mites are also a common trigger for asthma. If you have asthma and your condition tends to worsen at night, you may have a dust mite problem in your bedroom.

In fact, the best place to attack dust mites is in the bedroom, since that’s where we spend the most time indoors. The Journal of the American Medical Association recommends these steps for reducing dust mites in your bedroom:

• Encase your pillow, mattress, box spring, and comforter or duvet in anti-allergen covers.
• Wash all bedding — sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and comforters — once a week in 130° F or hotter water.
• If possible, remove carpets and rugs from the bedroom floor. If that’s not an option, vacuum frequently, and be sure to change the vacuum’s bag or filter on a regular basis. A double-bagged, HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtered vacuum cleaner can help rid your carpet of dust mites and other common household allergens. It’s a good idea to keep up with the
  vacuuming throughout the house as well.

• Dust all surfaces regularly. Use a damp mop or rag to avoid stirring up the dust. If you’re dust-sensitive, wear a mask while vacuuming to avoid inhaling dust that’s in the air.
• Remove stuffed animals from the bed. Like bedding, stuffed animals should be washed weekly in 130° F or hotter water. Make sure you purchase machine-washable stuffed toys.
• Keep the humidity level in your home under 50%. Dust mites hate dry conditions.
• If you have asthma, discuss proper humidity levels with your doctor — very dry air can trigger or worsen your symptoms.
• Run a HEPA purifier in your bedroom. HEPA filters can remove up to 99.9% of allergens from the air.

In other parts of the house:

• Dust and mop weekly. Don’t forget your closets.
• Change furnace or air-conditioning filters monthly.
• Avoid upholstered furniture, which can harbor dust mites.

Dust mites are virtually impossible to eliminate. But even small efforts at dust mite control can make a big difference. If you wash your bedding weekly and encase your mattress and box spring, you can reduce dust mite exposure 100- to 1,000-fold within a single month, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. The actions you take can greatly reduce your exposure to this common allergen.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 25th, 2007 at 9:47 am and is filed under Healthy Breathing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.