Putting Allergies to Rest
The fall months offer
the anticipation of sunny days, cool autumn nights
and the inevitable start of another allergy season.
While most people think of spring as allergy time,
managing allergens can be just as difficult in the
late summer and early fall thanks to an influx of
mold spores, ragweed and house dust mites. These allergens
can also take up residence inside our homes.
“House dust mites are
the number-one allergen in the United States,”
notes William Schoenwetter, M.D., clinical professor
of medicine at the University of Minnesota and consultant
in the Asthma and Allergic Diseases Department at
Park Nicollet Clinic in St. Louis Park, Minn. “Because
families spend many hours indoors during cooler months,
there can be an increased exposure to dust mites this
time of year.”
In fact, the National Institute
of Environmental Health Sciences reports that 45 percent
of U.S. homes have bedding with dust-mite concentrations
that exceed allergic-sensitivity levels. The Ohio
State University Extension Office reports that a two-year-old
pillow can hold 10 percent of its weight in dust mites,
which can make a good night’s sleep unattainable
for allergy sufferers.
Common household mold -- another
irritating allergen -- can also form in basements,
bathrooms and kitchens. It can be found in bedrooms,
and in many types and brands of pillows, bedding and
mattresses. It happens when indoor humidity levels
reach more than 50 percent. While such mold formation
is uncommon, it can be encouraged by an accumulation
of moisture released by the body during sleep.
“Most of us coexist with
molds and do not have any problems because it ranks
low on the list of allergy triggers,” says Dr.
Schoenwetter. “Fortunately, allergy sufferers
can take very specific steps to eliminate and reduce
dust mites and common household mold from their bedroom
and homes.”
Here are a few simple tips to
make your bedroom into an allergy-free sleep haven:
1) Select the right mattress
and clean it. For many allergy sufferers, the mattress
is an unknown haven for dust mites and, on rare occasions,
common household mold. One product recommended by
most allergists is an allergen-barrier mattress protector
to shield and protect the mattress. Another product
with unique advantages for allergy sufferers is the
Sleep Number bed by Select Comfort, which, unlike
traditional beds, can be easily unzipped, vacuumed
and cleaned on the inside to remove dust mites and
other allergens.
2) Replace pillows every five
years. A new pillow will provide better support and
allergy protection. Hypoallergenic pillows are available
for back, side and stomach sleepers at www.selectcomfort.com.
3) Protect your new pillows.
To increase longevity and prevent new allergens from
growing, Select Comfort offers an allergen-barrier
pillow protector that is 100 percent cotton with a
luxurious 240-thread count. The patented tight-weaving
process provides a natural barrier to dust and dust
mites.
In addition to cleaning or replacing
bedding items, the following tips can help create
a reduced-allergen sleep environment:
* Select a high-quality mattress
pad to allow proper absorption of body moisture, particularly
for those who perspire excessively while sleeping.
Some people perspire as much as two cups of moisture
during the night.
* Wash bedding weekly in 130-degree
water to kill dust mites.
* Reduce the possibility of
mold growth in your home by maintaining low indoor
humidity. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, 30 to 50 percent relative humidity is ideal.
Using air conditioners and dehumidifiers, increasing
ventilation, and adding insulation to reduce condensation
on surfaces such as windows and floors can help decrease
humidity.
* Use a HEPA air purifier in
the bedroom to remove allergens, and change the filter
as recommended.
* Remove rugs, carpet and window
coverings wherever possible, and clean any remaining
carpet and curtains frequently.
* Keep pets and dirty shoes
out of the bedroom.
