Where do dust mites come from? If you sniffle and sneeze, you are responding to a problem with dust. However, it is not the dust that causes the allergic response. Rather, it is the mites that find a home in the dusty residue. Dust mites live all over the place and, therefore, must be eradicated, especially if you notice that you sneeze more or your eyes run when your heating or cooling system is running.
In fact, the first place that dust collects is in the ductwork of your central heating and cooling system. That is why it is important to have the ducts cleaned regularly. Doing so can prevent a lot of allergic reactions – reactions that can lead to problems with respiratory distress and asthma. If you do not have the ductwork cleaned, you will continue to suffer.
Do Your Pets Sneeze From Time to Time?
Have you noticed that even your pets sneeze from time to time? If so, it is because dust and dust mites are circulating in the air. They fall over the carpet and find a home in the fibers as well. Therefore, you have to clean more than your ductwork when dust mites make a home in your household.
Vacuum Your Carpet Regularly
Besides cleaning the ductwork, it is important to vacuum your carpet regularly to get rid of the mites. These little pests will happily take up residence wherever they land. Whenever you see dust, you know that the mites are also present. That is why any dusting or cleaning measures must be performed with diligence.
Along with vacuuming, you need to have your carpet deep cleaned. To get rid of mites, this is necessary. While vacuuming can take care of any surface dirt or dust, you still need to reach beyond the surface to get rid of those pesky mites. Otherwise, you will still tend to be plagued with sneezing, runny eyes, runny nose, and a generally distressed demeanor.
Clean Away Surface Dust
Cleaning any surface of dust is one of the primary weapons to use against dust mites. When your place is dusty, you can easily succumb to a dust mite allergy. Signs of this type of allergy unfold as hayfever-like symptoms. Some people even have problems with breathing and wheeze from time to time.
The dust mite itself is a close relative of the tick and therefore is too small to see without microscopic assistance. Dust mites like to devour skin cells that are shed by people and they enjoy environments that are humid and warm. Therefore, it also pays to check the humidity level in your home. This can easily be done with an instrument known as a hygrometer. You can find digital models online that will show you just how much moisture is in your living space. Any figure above 50% is simply too damp.
Get Rid of Excess Moisture
If you find moisture is a problem, you will need to either dehumidify the home or take certain measures to reduce the level of humidity. For instance, you may have to open a window after you shower or take out houseplants that often release extra moisture into the air.
Dust mites often affect bedding, upholstery, and carpeting. Therefore, any of these items should be regularly and thoroughly cleaned. However, again, you need to make sure the ducts in your home are also free of dust, as the dust from the vents and ductwork freely circulate through the air. When the dust lands, it is captured in the fabrics of your drapes and furnishings, as well as in the carpeting and rugs.
Do You Have Post-Nasal Drip?
Dust mite allergies inflame the nasal passages and lead to nasal congestion, post-nasal drip, and coughing. Sufferers often report that they have facial pain and pressure as well. If the dust mite allergy worsens asthma symptoms, the victim will experience problems with breathing, chest pain and tightness, and wheezing when they exhale. They may also have difficulty sleeping, a problem that is caused by shortness of breath or coughing.
Dust Mite Allergies Can Be Mild to Severe
Depending on the dust in the house and the dust mite problem, an allergy to the mites may be anywhere from mild to severe. Even if the allergy is mild, it can cause a lot of distress and discomfort for the sufferer. That is why you need to take any dust problem seriously. Even if you are not affected greatly, this type of issue can cause health problems for your pets or children or elderly members in your household.
Any allergy will occur when your immune system negatively reacts to a foreign invader or substance. This substance can come in the form of dust mites, pollen, or pet dander. You immune system creates antibodies to protect you in this respect.
When you have a dust mite allergy, your immune system views a specific allergen as something it should attack. It may consider it harmful even when it may be innocuous. When you come into contact with an allergen, an inflammatory response happens – one that normally occurs in the lungs or nasal passages. Any prolonged exposures to dust mites, for example, can lead to a recurring inflammation. This can become a major health issue if you do not find the source for the allergy and take care of it.
Dust Mites Like to Eat Shedded Skin
Dust mites consume organic matter as well, such as skin cells that have shed. They also absorb any moisture in the air instead of drinking water. The dust that is present in your home also contains the feces of dust mites as well as their decayed or decaying bodies. The proteins that are present in this type of residue is the main reason for an allergy.
You have an increased risk of a dust mite allergy if you have a history of allergies in your family or you are exposed to the mites. If you are exposed to a high level of dust mites in your younger years, it also increases the risk. If you have children in your home and want to ensure their future health, you need to make sure any dust mite problem is addressed.
Do You Have Children in Your House?
Any child or young adult is more likely to suffer from an allergy due to dust mites than adults who are older. Therefore, if you have a family and pets, you need to take every measure necessary to make sure your home is free of dust mite residue.
This means that you need to reduce the level of humidity in your home if moisture is a problem. You also need to make sure that your heating and cooling ducts are regularly checked and cleaned and that your air conditioning unit is inspected and cleaned routinely. Also, you need to have your carpet deep cleaned once or twice a year and have your upholstery deep cleaned at the same time.
Anywhere that dust mites like to congregate is a place you need to review and have the proper cleaning methods of prevention exercised. Dust mites can cause severe health issues. Therefore, cleaning away dust particles should be an ongoing routine if you want to make sure that your family is healthy and happy.
Some of the Complications
Some of the complications that result from a dust mite allergy include sinus infections and asthma. Ongoing inflammation of the nasal passages can clog the sinuses and make it hard to breathe. The sinuses represent cavities that connect to the nasal passages. When these cavities are clogged, you are more likely to develop conditions, such as sinusitis.
Also, people with asthma who are exposed to dust mites can have problems managing their asthma symptoms. They can have more problems with asthmas attacks and require emergency care in these instances.
Dust Mites Can Be Powerfully Annoying
Dust mites may be small, but they wield a lot of power when it comes to making people feel unhealthy and uncomfortable. One of the first measures that you need to take when you have a problem with dust mites or a related allergy, is to clean your ductwork. After the ductwork is cleaned, you can concentrate on deep cleaning your carpeting, rugs, drapes, and upholstery. You will also need to make it a regular practice to clean your countertops and similar surfaces. Make sure your house is free of too much moisture too.
All of the above measures are important if you want to live in a healthy living space. Families need to be particularly aware of dust mite allergies and take the proper steps to combat this type of problem. By taking this kind of stance, you will find that your eyes will scratch less and your nose will not run as much. Also, much of the sneezing that you’re currently experiencing will subside. You will also find this type of improvement among your pets and children.
While some people may think that they are suffering from hayfever, they probably have a dust mite allergy if the symptoms are experienced throughout the year. Hayfever, which is caused by pollen, usually only makes itself known during the spring or early summer.
