Causes Of Dust Mite Allergy According To Ayurveda
The low immunity is considered as the cause of dust mite allergy. The low immunity can be due to weak digestive fire, inhalation of smoke and dust, lack of proper sleep in the night, exposure to cold air, suppression of natural urges etc. In Ayurveda, dust mite allergy has been explained in terms of Pratishaya. Pratishaya is caused due to the vitiation of Vata dosha which has the similar symptoms of dust allergy.
The presence of accumulated toxins in the body is the main cause of low immunity described in Ayurveda. The toxins accumulate due to poor digestion which in turn causes the imbalance of various doshas in the body.
How Do You Know If Youre Allergic To Dust Mites
If you suffer from allergies year-round, and they tend to be worse at home or in your bedroom, you could very well have a dust mite allergy. Likewise, if you experience skin reactions after sleeping.
Here are some of the more common dust mite allergy symptoms:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Itchy, red, or watery eyes
- Itchy nose, mouth, or throat
Tackling your dust mite problem might offer the relief youâve been searching for.
Choose Bedding That’s Easy To Clean
If you’re in the market for new bedding, think proactively about minimizing dust mites. Select items that can go in the washing machine. For instance, opt for a quilt instead of a duvet that’s too bulky for your machine to accommodate. Look for pillows that are washable as well.
Moreover, try to avoid bedding that tends to trap dust. For example, a ruffled bedcover will likely trap more dust than one that’s smooth fabric. And skip bedding you don’t necessarily need, such as extra throw pillows or a bedskirt. This will give the dust mites fewer places where they can take up residence, and it will make cleaning your bedding easier on you.
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How Can I Prevent Allergic Reactions To Dust Mites
Remember, having dust mites doesnt mean your house isnt clean. In most areas of the world, these creatures live in every home, no matter how clean. But, you can reduce their effects. There are many changes you can make to your home to reduce the numbers of these unwanted guests.
Studies show that more dust mites live in your bedroom than anywhere else in your home. So this is the best place to start.
- Cover mattresses and pillows in zippered dust-proof covers. These covers are made of a material with pores too small to let dust mites and their waste product through. They are also called allergen-impermeable. Plastic or vinyl covers are the least expensive, but some people find them uncomfortable. You can buy other fabric allergen-impermeable covers from many regular bedding stores.
- Wash your sheets and blankets weekly in hot water. You have to wash them in water thats at least 130 F or more to kill dust mites.
- Get rid of all types of fabric that mites love and that you cannot easilywash regularly in hot water. Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting, curtains, blinds, upholstered furniture and down-filled covers and pillows in the bedroom. Put roll-type shades on your windows instead of curtains.
- Special CERTIFIED filter vacuum cleaners can help to keep mites and mite waste from getting back into the air. CERTIFIED vacuums are scientifically tested and verified as more suitable for making your home healthier.
Treat other rooms in your house like your bedroom. Here are more tips:
Frequent Vacuuming And Dusting
Far less harmful to mankind and the environment is the dust rag and vacuum cleaner. These are preferred to nuclear devices for removing dust mites.
Dust with damp cloths and always start at the top of the room and work down. In other words, dust the items up high before you dust items lower. Do not dust with products that leave a residue. This creates and attracts dust. Personally, we use old cotton tee-shirts sprayed with the Allersearch AllerDust Dusting Aid. Once we are done dusting, we toss the shirt into the wash.
Dont dust before going to bed. Always wait at least 2 hours before sleeping in a room that has been dusted. Even if you dust with damp rags, some dust will become airborne and you want to give it time to settle before you go to bed. You dont want dust to slowly settle on you and you dont want to breathe it while you are in bed.
If you dust with microfiber cloths, always dust in one direction otherwise, you will continually release the dust the rag has picked up.
Vacuum with a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner. Canister models are preferred to upright models, as they have better seals. Speaking of seals, select a completely sealed vacuum system so that dust and allergens dont leak out of the unit. Make sure the vacuum is fitted with a true HEPA filter. Avoid bagless models.
Avoid models with washable filters. Bag-less vacuums and vacuums with washable filters only expose you to the very allergens you want to eliminate so, avoid these models.
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Iafa Respiro Detox Formula
IAFA provides an Ayurvedic preparation Respiratory Detox Formula which is prepared by 6 Ayurvedic herbs and minerals especially for treating respiratory tract allergies. This formulation is free from fillers, colours, artificial flavours, additives etc. It also contains minerals that have been used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine since ages. This unique formula helps in boosting the immune system that successfully manages dust mite allergy and prevents its recurrence. All the herbs used in it are anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic in nature. The composition of IAFA Respiro Detox Formula includes Thaleesapathradi Choornam, Giloy Satva, Tankan Bhasam, Saftik Bhasam, Godanti Bhasam, Abhrak Bhasam, Black pepper , Vanshlochan , Dalchini and Indian Silver Fir .
Method of Usage: 1 tsp. with honey or lukewarm water once or twice a day.
How To Get Rid Of Dust Mites: More Steps You Can Take
Now comes the big question the entire purpose of this article: how do we reduce and eliminate dust mites in our homes? There are many techniques that are effective for reducing the amount of dust mites, and it often comes down to killing the mites themselves and reducing their main food source: household dust.
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Clean Your Carpets Curtains And Soft Furnishings
Carpets, curtains, and soft furnishings can hold dead skin, a normal part of household dust, as well as dust mite feces. Cleaning your sofa and carpets is a lot more difficult than cleaning bedding a simple vacuum or even steam cleaner wont remove the dust mites completely.
Toss any machine-washable curtains, rugs, sofa cushions, and sofa coverings in the washing machine as often as possible. If you cant wash them, apply a denaturing agent. Though these agents wont get rid of mites, they do break down the protein that causes allergic reactions.
Make sure you also wash soft toys and pet bedding regularly in hot water as outlined above.
Is It Rare To Be Allergic To Dust Mites
Not at all. Hereâs why: Dust mites poop â a lot. A single dust mite poops out around 20 droppings each day, and despite the incredibly small size of dust mite feces, itâs a highly potent allergen for 25 percent of the population.
But itâs not just dust mite poop that can trigger allergies. Dust mites only live for one to three months, and once they die, their dried-up body parts are also highly allergenic.
Inhaling the dead bodies and dookie of dust mites may trigger mild or severe allergies, asthma attacks, and eczema flare-ups. People with long-term dust mite allergies may develop asthma.
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Get Rid Of Their Home Or Make It Uncomfortable
Dust mites look for places that are dark, warm, and filled with their favorite food, shed human skin cells. Therefore, they love fiber surfaces. Fibers give dust mites a hiding place and fibers collect food and trap moisture.
Fiber surfaces are not easily cleaned. So, over time, more and more dust mite allergens collect in fibers.
Removing dust mites from fabric surfaces requires a multi-prong approach.
Carpeting: While you dont have loads of dust mites actively living and breeding in your carpets, carpets hold the dead body parts that are a normal part of household dust as well as dust mite feces. Try as you may, you cant clean the carpet.
Imagine you took your favorite cotton button-down shirt and tossed it on the floor and walked on it for 6 to 9 months. Then to clean it, you splashed a little water and soap on it and then vacuumed it up. Would that shirt be what you called, ahem, clean? Nope. But, thats essentially carpet cleaning in a nutshell.
You can spend money on carpet cleaning and carpets will look and smell cleaner, but you cant really clean carpet deep down where the allergens are. Even when you steam clean a carpet, you may kill the mites, but you will not remove the allergens.
Remember, a dead dust mite is just as bad for you as a live one. That is why allergists agree that the best surface for flooring is a hard surface.
While you are at it, get rid of the excess clutter and dust catchers in the bedroom. Do you really need 12 pillows on the bed?
Do Dust Mites Wash Off In The Shower
If you want to get rid of dust mites on your skin, it is best to shower and thoroughly clean yourself with hot water and soap. You should be able to eliminate any dust mites that may still be present on your body with the heat and soap.
Dust Mites And Asthma: What You Need To Know
Dust mite bites may aggravate your asthma symptoms. If you are allergic to dust mites or if you have asthma, you should take precautions to reduce your exposure to them. You can keep your home clean by washing your bedding on a regular basis, such as linens, bed covers, washable mattress covers, and a washable pillow cover . Its also possible to clean dust mites from floors and walls, as well as furniture and floors.
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Can Washing A Blanket Get Rid Of Dust Mites
by Summer | Nov 30, 2022 | Blankets
If you are someone who suffers from allergies, you know how important it is to keep your home free of dust and other allergens. Dust mites are one of the most common indoor allergens, and they are often found in bedding, upholstered furniture, and carpets. While it is impossible to completely get rid of dust mites, there are things you can do to reduce their numbers and minimize your exposure to them. One of the best ways to do this is to wash your bedding and blankets regularly. Washing your bedding and blankets is an effective way to reduce the number of dust mites in your home. Dust mites are attracted to dirty bedding and blankets, so washing them regularly will help to keep them away. It is important to use hot water when washing your bedding and blankets, as this will kill the dust mites. You should also dry your bedding and blankets on a high heat setting, as this will further reduce the number of dust mites.
When bedding was washed with or without laundry powder, the allergen concentration was significantly reduced, but most live mites did not go away. Although the amount of allergen in the dust is not significantly reduced as a result of dry cleaning, the majority of mites did not survive.
When the dryer is heated, dust mites die and allergens are eliminated, and the air flows freely, allowing dust mites to be eliminated.
Clean Your Bedding Regularly
One of the best ways to kill dust mites in your home, and especially the bedroom, is to wash your pillowcases, sheets, blankets, and covers regularly. Wash them in hot water thats at least 130 degrees F and then dry them on a hot setting for at least 15 minutes at 130 degrees F. For best results, wash with an allergen-reducing laundry detergent that contains ingredients that remove dust mite allergens. Clean your mattress regularly with a steamer temperatures above 130 degrees F will kill the majority of dust mites. For non-washable items, freeze them for 24 hours this can also kill dust mites, but it wont be as effective at removing the allergens.
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How To Reduce The Dust Mites In Your Home
It is impossible to destroy your entire dust mite population, but you can reduce their numbers. Allergic reactions are dose-related, so the fewer dust mites you have in your home, the less you may be troubled by respiratory or dermatological symptoms.
It is important to remember that the droppings of dead dust mites continue to provoke allergic reactions. You must not only reduce your dust mite population, but also take steps to remove their dead bodies and faeces from your home.
Do You Have A Dust Allergy
A dust allergy can cause a variety of symptoms similar in nature toother types of allergies.
The best way to determine if your dust allergy is caused by dust mites oranother allergen is to seek aprofessional diagnosis. In addition to asking questions about your symptomsand home, the doctor may examineyour noses lining with a lighted instrument.If your nasal passages are pale, bluish, or swollen, its a good indicationyou suffer from an airborne allergy.Your doctor may refer you to an allergist for further testing to narrow downthe cause. Allergists commonlyconduct these two tests.
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Dont Want To Use Chemicals Heres How To Get Rid Of Dust Mites Naturally
Certain essential oils, mainly eucalyptus, are effective at killing dust mites. There are a few ways you can use these oils around your home to deter dust mites. Add drops of eucalyptus oil to your washing machine when cleaning your bedding and upholstery, and dilute drops of eucalyptus oil with water and spray it around your house and on your furniture and bedding.
Having plants with large leaves in your home can also help collect dust and fight against microbes and mites. Flowers like Boston ferns, chamaedorea , spider plant, and peace lily are great to help prevent dust allergies.
What Is Dust Allergy
Often alternatively known as Dust Mite Allergy, it is a form of air borne energy caused because of the infestation of the dust mites. These are tiny bugs which do belong to the spider family.
They are predominantly found around in the house dust and actively feed on the dead skin cells that people shed off on a daily basis. The main reason why this form of allergy is so common is because of the fact that they can withstand and live in extreme weather conditions too.
When we accidentally end up inhaling through the dust around in the house, chances are that these mites enter into our body. In order to recuperate the associated problems, the immune system of the body goes into a full overdrive to fight off the antigens.
These reactions are what we experience around as the symptoms for dust allergy.
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How Does A Doctor Diagnose Dust Mite Allergy
To diagnose a dust mite allergy, your doctor may give you a physical exam and discuss your symptoms. If your doctor thinks you have a dust mite allergy, they may suggest a skin or blood test. If you have symptoms year round, you could have a dust mite allergy.
Skin Prick Test In prick/scratch testing, a small drop of the possible allergen is placed on your skin. Then the nurse or doctor will lightly prick or scratch the spot with a needle through the drop. If you are allergic to the substance, you will develop redness, swelling and itching at the test site within 20 minutes. You may also see a wheal. A wheal is a raised, round area that looks like a hive. Usually, the larger the wheal, the more likely you are to be allergic to the allergen.
A positive SPT to a particular allergen does not necessarily mean you have an allergy. Health care providers must compare the skin test results with the time and place of your symptoms to see if they match.
What Tests Will Be Done To Diagnose A Dust Mite Allergy
Your healthcare provider may use different allergy tests to help diagnose a dust mite allergy. These tests may include:
Skin prick test
This test exposes your body to small amounts of dust mite proteins.
Your healthcare provider will first clean a test area of your skin with iodine or alcohol. The test area is usually on your forearm or upper back.
Your allergist will use a thin needle to prick the surface of your skin with dust mite proteins. The lancet wont go deep into your skin. Youll only feel a tiny pinch, and you wont bleed.
Allergists may place droplets of dust mite allergens on your skin. They then use a lancet to scratch your skin lightly. The droplets will enter your skin through the scratch. Youll only feel slight discomfort, and you wont bleed.
Allergic reactions typically occur within 15 minutes of exposure to dust mite proteins. Reactions may include skin discoloration or raised, round spots called wheals that look like bug bites.
Your allergist will measure the size of your wheal and flare . The size helps determine if you are sensitive to dust mite allergens.
A skin prick test takes less than an hour.
Blood test
During a blood test, your healthcare provider will use a thin needle to withdraw a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm. The blood sample goes to a laboratory. The lab adds dust mite proteins to your blood sample and measures the levels of IgE antibodies in it. High levels of IgE antibodies indicate a dust mite allergy.
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