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Memory Foam Pillows and Dust Mites

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Posted in What Are Dust MitesTagged

Someone just sent me an article about how memory foam pillows are dust mite and fungi proof. While they have good intentions they don’t have all the facts.

First of all, nothing is truly dust mite proof. Right now as you are reading this post you have dust mites on you. If your sitting on a chair I’m willing to bet a microscopic cloud of allergens flew up into the air when you sat down.

The reason people cover their bedding, including foam pillows, mattresses and toppers, is they are reducing the amount of allergens they are exposed to. A study done several years ago said a mattress will double in weight over a period of 12 years if left unprotected.

The way a memory foam product is manufactured it does not allow for dust mites to burrow into the middle of the item. However they and their allergens can be found on the surface and in the air pockets created when foam is made. Better than a regular pillow but not dust mite free.

As far as fungi proof, I can’t see how that is possible. Fungi will grow on any surface that gets damp in is in the dark. I have a memory foam pillow I sleep on when my neck is bothering me and while it works great it gets warm and my neck sweats. I’ll have to test it.

Don’t Worry About Dust Mites .. Wrong

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Posted in What Are Dust MitesTagged

While scanning articles about dust mites and allergies I ran across this one from the Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Center and feel compelled to point out a few things. Read complete article

In the beginning  it talks about the person going out and buying down pillows. This is one of the worst things an allergy suffer can do. If the dust mites don’t get you the down will. The best thing for allergy suffers to do is sleep with pillows that have a polyester fill.

The article goes on to talk about a study done in 2004  by Dr. Peter Gotzsche. “Dr. Peter Gotzsche, lead author of the study and director of the Nordic Cochrane Center in Copenhagen, said in an e-mail, “The reduction in exposure to mites and mite allergens that can be obtained by encasings, chemicals, vacuum cleaning, etc., is far too small to have any effect.”

It then goes on to say that most allergists and environmental health experts disagree.

I’m with them.

The doctors comment about the reduction is too small does not seem right. Dust mites live in the mattress and pillows. They live there, poop there and then die there. Common sense should tell you that is where the highest concentration of dust mite allergens can be found. Put a cover on the mattress and limit your exposure.

While you can disagree on what dust mite cover is better majority of the people I know will agree they help.

If you think you have allergies to dust mites it makes sense to be tested. It does not make sense to sleep on an unprotected bed.

Reducing Dust Mites Offer Relief For Asthma Sufferers

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Posted in Dust Mites and Asthma

The increase in children and adults who suffer from allergies and asthma has steadily increased worldwide. There is a way to lower the risk of child asthma and even prevent your child from ever developing this serious lung disease.

Health experts warn that children don’t simply learn to grow out of these life threatening diseases and that preventative action to reduce dust mites, which prove to be one of the worst triggers is very important. Infants in their first year are the most susceptible to developing a sensitivity that can eventually become full blown asthma, but even adults can suddenly react to these allergens after many years of living with them.

Reducing the dust mites in your home with the right allergy control products will also be highly beneficial for the health of those who already have illness due to allergies and asthma and doing so can offer effective asthma relief.

Read complete article – http://searchwarp.com/swa707283-How-Reducing-Dust-Mites-Offers-Relief-From-Asthma-Symptoms.htm

Elementary Students Collecting Dust Mites

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Posted in Dust Mite Studies

Science is not dead in elementary school.

These students get it. The air we are breathing can be pretty gross sometimes.

The Elementary Science Olympiad was held this week at Southwestern Michigan College. About 200 third-, fourth- and fifth-graders immersed themselves in the wonders of the scientific world.

One student said ” I’m making sticky air-junk detectors to collect dust. It’s to stop air pollution and collect dust mites”.  Outstanding idea.

He built his detector out of construction paper and sticky labels. The article does not say how they worked but I really like his drive.

Read complete article  http://www.southbendtribune.com/sbt-20110310sbtmichb-01-02-20110310,0,1379400.story

Dust Mites and Barbie. Is There a Connection

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Posted in What Are Dust Mites

Every so often you run across something that brings back the memories. Just got this post from one of the other blogs I keep tabs one and it reminded me of my daughter.

She did not have allergies when she was young but she did like to play with her Barbie dolls. Some of them were her mom’s when she was a kid. Someone said things change but stay the same. I did read that you can now put tattoos on her. That has changed.

Anyway here is the link to the post on the Allergy Stores Blog.   Barbie and Dust Mites .. Related?  http://allergy.allergystore.com/2011/03/10/barbie-and-dust-mite-allergies.aspx