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Introduction To Dust Mites
The population of mites can get out of control They can contribute to the development of allergy-related asthma They can irritate and worsen an existing asthma conditiom They can increase your overall sensitivity to allergens in general Even if you're not directly allergic to dust mites, there can still be 2 million or so of them in your bedding every night while you sleep. Not really a pleasant thought. The allergic reaction you are likely to get from dust mites is similar to ragweed. The symptoms of these nasal allergies are very similar. So What are Dust Mites? They are microscopic, and usually considered to be insects though they are more accurately related to spiders and ticks. But they do not bite or carry any kind of disease that would be harmful to humans. The problem is that many people are allergic to them, which can make your life miserable if you can't pinpoint the cause of your allergy. Mites start off as an egg, then hatch to become a nymph and then a larva. After that, they grow into adults and the whole cycle takes about a month. Adult females will live for 1 to 3 months and lay 50 to 80 eggs. Where Do You Find Them? In most homes, you will find dust mites in bedding, carpets, drapes, towels, cushioned furniture and even stuffed toys. They hate the light, and prefer warm and moist environments. When your home is dry, they can still thrive in bedding because of the moisture provided by your body at night. They find plenty of food in your bedding and other fabrics too. Dust mites eat the tiny flakes of skin that make up most household dust, and there is more than enough in an average home to keep large populations well fed. Besides skin, they also eat small particles of fungus or pollen. They don't even need to drink water, and are happy to just absorb moisture right from the air. Basically, our homes are the perfect environment for them, and they are found in all homes unless you live at very high altitudes. The dust mites themselves are actually quite harmless, and invisible to the naked eye. You'd never know they were there, except that their waste droppings are potent allergens. Its the leftover material that remains after they digest the tiny skin flakes that can trigger severe allergies. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com About Author: |
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