Do Dust Mites Endanger Your Health?

The thought of dust mites in your bed, pillows, carpet and other furniture is unsettling to say the least. House dust mites are tiny creatures that look like a cross between a spider and a lobster, and they crawl around beds, eating dead cells. You may not realize that you have a problem at first because you can’t see dust mites without a microscope, and they don’t bite. However, you may soon figure out that they’re present because of the impact they can have on your health.

Asthma

One of the worst ways that dust mites can endanger your health is by causing asthma. Rather than the inflammation of nasal passages, allergic rhinitis, you can suffer inflammation of the lungs which can make it difficult to breathe. Dust mites can also trigger a reaction in your respiratory system to constrict your airways, resulting in a shortness of breath or wheezing. These are symptoms of asthma that can be life threatening if you don’t deal with them. There are prescription medicines you can take to relieve your symptoms, but you should take proactive steps to get rid of dust mites in your apartment.

Allergies

Dust mites are notorious for causing allergies, especially allergic rhinitis. The symptoms are similar to hay fever, including a running nose and constant sneezing. The dust mites triggers a reaction that negatively impacts the immune system, causing an inflammation of the nasal passages. The symptoms will go on and on unless you get rid of the dust mites. Simply treating the sneezing and running nose won’t do much.

Development of New Allergies

Dust mites also cause individuals who have never suffered allergies before to develop new allergies. Most people become allergic to the feces and shed skin on the dust mites, and those allergies can last for a lifetime whenever dust mites are present. For this reason, it’s important to get rid of or control dust mites in your apartment.

Facial Pressure and Pain

Dust mites can cause pressure and pain in your face, due to an allergic reaction. This can occur when you inhale the feces of the dust mites or when it touches the skin. Of course you don’t set out to do this, but if you don’t eliminate dust mites, then they could be leaving all sorts of interesting things on your pillows and bed. In addition to your face hurting, the area under your eyes can get swollen. That same area will also turn blue.

Sleep Deprivation

It’s hard to sleep well when you’re sleeping with dust mites. With all the allergic symptoms they can cause, plus coughing and pain while breathing, you won’t be able to enjoy uninterrupted sleep. Sleep deprivation is a doorway to a host of many other health issues, making dust mites dangerous to your health.

Prevent or control dust mites by covering your mattress with plastic covers, and vacuum the bed and base often. Wash bedding in hot water and often. Also, reduce the humidity in your apartment, because dust mites thrive in humid places.