Showing posts with label Allergies. Show all posts

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Allergies - The Difference Between Bed Bugs and Dust Mites

We get a lot of calls concerning Dust Mites and how they affect you. Some clients even ask the question, "What is the difference between a Bed Bug and a Dust Mite? We also received that same question yesterday so I figured it was best to put it in print so the whole world can see it and understand.

The definition of a Bed Bug according to Wikipedia: A bedbug (or bed bug) is a small nocturnal insect of the family Cimicidae that lives by hematophagy, or by feeding on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded hosts.There is definitely a big difference between the two just by reading this definition. Wow, sounds like a Vampire to me. Imagine having little vampires in bed with you sucking the blood out of you.

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The definition of a Dust Mite according to Wikipedia: Dust mites feed on organic detritus such as flakes of shed human skin and flourish in the stable environment of dwellings.The good thing here is they do not suck the life out of you, only eat your dead skin after it falls off your body. Dust Mites are microscopic bugs that primarily live on dead skin cells.

Allergies - The Difference Between Bed Bugs and Dust Mites

Now that we know the difference, lets get into a little detail. Bed Bugs basically will bite you and take a little blood from you. Bed Bug Infestation can be cured but Dust Mite infestation can be only controlled. The current information on Bed Bugs is they are not believed to carry infectious diseases but that could change tomorrow. My first question with that idea is if they suck in blood, why would they not carry some form of disease from an infected person. The jury is still out on that, so don't worry till they discover a new disease that Bed Bugs transmit. Bed Bugs are most active at night and bite you when you are sleeping.To get rid of Bed Bugs, you have to call an exterminator.

Dust Mites on the other hand are in everyone's house. They are microscopic and live off you and your pets. Everyday, we shed skin cells off of our bodies. That is one of the reasons why everyone should have a high quality HEPA rated vacuum cleaner like the Miele. They live in your mattress, pillows and carpet. I remember one house that we tested for Allergens and the level of Dust Mites was very high in the carpet and mattress. We recommended the client remove the carpet and install tile. They also bought a new mattress and pillows. Six months later, we performed the same test and the the level had dropped to minimal.

Also, do not make your bed first thing in the morning, (my mother would cringe if she read this) pull the covers back and let the body sweat from the night before evaporate before making the bed. I do this myself and it works fine. I also put the pillows in the dryer for 20 minutes on a weekly basis. This works for me, but remember to do what your Doctor recommends first. I also have a high quality mattress cover and pillow covers too. l

In conclusion, if you have Bed Bugs, call a Natural Pest Control Exterminator and discuss your least toxic method of getting rid of the Bed Bugs. If you have Allergies or a Compromised Immune System, be sure to discuss this with your Doctor before doing anything with the exterminator. Dust Mites can be controlled by lowering the humidity below 50%. Others say higher, but our success rates have been better with the 50% level. Keep your house clean using a HEPA rated vacuum cleaner such as the Miele. Do not forget to change the vacuum cleaner bag on a regular basis. There are different chemical treatments for Dust Mites but they tend to make Allergies and Asthma worse. We do not recommend them at all due to this fact. Discuss this option with your Doctor also before using any chemicals for Dust Mites. The real key to keeping Dust Mites under control is cleaning your house once a week. If you have any questions, feel free to call us at Safe Homes Environmental Consultants (954) 531-6476 or visit our Website.

Allergies - The Difference Between Bed Bugs and Dust Mites

Friday, January 13, 2012

Allergies: What Causes Allergens in the Home and What Can You Do About It?

Allergies: What Causes Allergens in the Home and What Can You Do About It?

Do you suffer from allergies or even asthma, wondering why your home seems to be contributing to your breathing challenges? Have you asked yourself what steps you can take to clear the air in your home? Wondered whether an air purifier would help?

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How does our home environment become contaminated? Do you remember watching the sun shine through a window and seeing little particles of dust float around in the air? Sometimes they seemed to stay in one place, perhaps tiny fibers or dots, while other times they moved with the air currents. These particles in the air are always there, whether you see them or not. And, if they are in your air, they are also in your nasal passages and in your lungs. You cannot help breathing them in unless you are wearing a breathing mask. Not very comforting, day in and day out! They are found both indoors and outdoors, even when you cannot see them. They spread especially well on a windy day.

What are these particles, sometimes called particulates or particulate matter? They are also called allergens because many have allergic reactions to them, perhaps building up over time. Some allergens are dust or even the organisms that thrive in dust -- dust mites and their excrement. Some of the particles are so small they are not even seen, such as the particles in automobile and truck exhaust, the airborne exhaust from fires, pollen, mold, cigarette smoke, even particles from cooking. Pet hair and pet dander are commonly found floating in our air. Asbestos is a fiber that can be released into the air as can be the fibers from our furniture and clothing, the kind of stuff we find in the vent of the clothes dryer.

What are the effects? While some people do not seem to be bothered at all, most of us can remember sniffling or coughing during "hay fever season". We often know when certain trees or grasses are in bloom because out eyes may be watery from time to time. While some people may not be bothered at all, others are challenged with irritation of the nasal passages and lungs, particularly children and the elderly. For more and more people today, these challenges turn into asthma, constant problems with lungs, and even cancer. Premature death is the result far too often.

What can you do to reduce these effects? There are many possible solutions for improving our indoor air, for instance:

1. Keep your living quarters clean. Do NOT allow dust to build up because it will circulate more and more. Vacuum in corners and under everything. Does dust collect on your walls? Vacuum or dust them. (If you experience allergic reactions, hire a cleaning service or wear a good dust mask!). Change vacuum cleaner bags as soon as the contents hit the change mark. Overfilling the vacuum bag will only cause the dust to re-circulate in your home.

2. Cover cooking pots when you are preparing meals. This minimizes the spread of cooking particles.

3. Drink plenty of pure water to hydrate your nasal passages and lungs. Sodas, juice, tea, and coffee do not count as water. Six to eight glasses a day is the rule. The importance of water is often minimized by Western medicine but it is free to try and you will likely see the benefits yourself.

4. Air out your living quarters regularly. Move out the stale air and replace it with fresh air. Do not do this on a high-dust or high-pollen day! Generally speaking, there is more pollen in the air from 5-10:00 AM.

5. Clean out your clothes dryer vent every time you dry a batch of clothes. Dispose of the fibers in your closed trash can. Make sure they cannot get into the room air.

6. Vacuum your mattresses regularly. Dust mites thrive in mattresses. Buy special mite-proof encasings for your mattresses and pillows if you notice a greater sensitivity to particles when you or your family members are in bed.

7. If you are performing a task that creates dust, keep the door closed so it does not get into other areas of the home. Particles quickly accumulate in the air when someone is using a saw or sander, sweeping, or raking leaves outside. Wear a dust mask, as appropriate. If possible, have a vacuum handy to clean up the dust before it starts to spread into your home. Some vacuums have a HEPA-type filter which keeps dust from coming out with the air exhaust.

8. Buy quality true HEPA air purifiers for your living space. But be sure you know how to find the best ones and that you buy enough of them to clean the air in your entire living space. Some air purifiers have much better publicity than engineering so do your homework. Smaller air filters are portable and can be moved from room to room so that they are where you need them.

Allergies in the home have become a serious problem, one that has been addressed by trusted publications such as the National Geographic and Time Magazine. Use common sense to minimize them and to create a safe environment for the allergy sufferer.

Allergies: What Causes Allergens in the Home and What Can You Do About It?

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