mens health > allergies > dust mite control

Dust Mite Control

There is good scientific evidence that dust mite control and avoidance works. A number of studies have been published in the scientific literature demonstrating the importance of dust mites in the development of nasal irritation and congestion (allergic rhinitis) as well as allergic asthma. Of more interest here is that there is substantial evidence demonstrating that dust mite control and avoidance decreases the symptoms of dust mite allergy in allergic people.

Similar improvements have been reported for dust mite-sensitive asthmatics who lived in hospital rooms for an extended period of time. This means that if you are allergic to dust mites, your bedroom should be as much like a hospital room as is feasible. A hospital room is good because it has a plastic mattress, tile floors, plastic furniture, and very little clutter. All of the bedding is washed in extremely hot water every day. (If not, would you want to sleep in a hospital bed?).

Beating Dust Mites

• Place an impermeable dust mite encasing around the mattress , box spring and pillow. This type of encasing has vinyl on the inside and cloth on the outside to trap dust mites, but does not crinkle like plain vinyl. It also makes you sweat less than with plastic covers.
• Remove unnecessary objects from the wall and ceilings.
• Use window blinds that can be wiped rather than curtains.
• Consider using products that kill dust mites, such as benzyl benzoate or tannic acid. These products have been shown to have some benefits in homes where there is wall to wall carpeting which can't be removed.

Although dust mites are everywhere, a few simple environmental measures can dramatically improve your allergy and asthma symptoms as well as decrease the amount of allergy medication you may now require. Dust mite avoidance is the safest and among the most effective ways to treat allergies.

Drew Voight