Dust mites cannot be avoided. That is some pretty sad news to the millions of Americans who are allergic to them.
The medical community refers to these creatures as HDM or house dust mite. They are the cause of allergic asthma reactions as well as allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis describes a stuffy/runny nose and the sneezing and sore throat that often accompany it.
We are talking serious numbers of those allergic to HDM. Dust mites are the cause of up to 70% of all respiratory allergies. And HDM are the Number One cause of bronchial asthma in the world.
It does not matter how ‘clean’ your house is, they are everywhere. EVERYWHERE! They live in our clothes, on our belongings, in our cars, at the doctor’s office, at work, etc. But diligence can minimize the population to minimize allergies. Yes, allergy sufferers, there is relief!
Dust mites are microscopic. They do not feed on humans; they feed on dead human skin cells that we slough off. But because they are so incredible small, they are inhaled as we breathe and that is when the allergies really kick in. In crazy scientific-speak, these microscopic monsters trigger ‘innate’ allergic reactions (allergies you are born with) as well as ‘adaptive’ allergic reactions which are those developed by living in micro-habitats that breed allergies.
Your micro-habitat is the house you live in, the belongings within that house, the people you live with, the food you eat, the climate you live in, etc. Although all environments house dust mites successfully, a warm, moist environment (say the entire Southeastern United States), offers a great place for them to thrive.
So what can you do about HDM? There are safe products that control them. But do not be fooled into using synthetic pesticides – the poisons in those pesticides could be far worse for an allergy sufferer that the dust mites. (As a general rule, avoid poisons whenever possible!) And an off-the-shelf insecticide doesn’t do anything – these are MITES, not insects.
The very best treatment is to fog your home with a commercial grade fogger. These foggers can be purchased or rented. The quality of the fogger is important as they will take the mite control product and atomize it to a very fine mist (almost like humidity) that will penetrate into nooks and crannies you don’t even know exist. This is very significant as those hiding spaces are where the dust mites thrive and reproduce.
If you have a significant allergy to HDM, a monthly fogging treatment would drastically reduce your problems. Some people find fogging every six months is enough to control them. But having a safe, effective and easy to apply treatment for dust mites can create a microhabitat that doesn’t make you sick!