Tips for relieving dust mite allergies

Dust mites, those microscopic insects found in the house dust can be your greatest enemy if you have dust mite allergies. These tiny eight-legged creatures feed on human skin and other debris found in the dust, and excrete decomposing insect parts and allergenic proteins. When you walk around in your home, or dust the upholstery, you disturb these allergens and they remain airborne for about 20 to 30 minutes. When an allergic person inhales these allergens, he or she may develop allergic reactions like sneezing, nasal congestion, or enhanced asthma symptoms.

The first step to managing an allergy is to do your best to prevent the cause. Here are a few tips for relieving dust mite allergies:

Make the indoor environment inhospitable to the dust mites

Dust mites thrive in warm and humid environments. As a first step in the elimination of dust mites, make your indoor environment unfriendly to the dust mites. Keep the indoor humidity below 50 percent and make necessary changes to your air conditioner to keep the air cool and dry. For this tip to be effective, you should also make sure that you use an air conditioner with an efficient air filter that can trap mites and other allergens from outside.

Shield your bedroom against dust mites

It is found that an average person spends one-third of their lifetime in their bedroom, and due to that very reason, highest levels of mite infestation are found in the bedroom. The crevices in a mattress form an ideal breeding place for dust mites. So, it is very important to protect your bedroom against the dust mites. Choose mite-resistant covers to encase your mattresses and pillows, and wash the bed sheets and blankets in hot water on a weekly basis to eliminate the possibility of dust mites effectively.

Avoid carpets and draperies or clean them regularly

Draperies collect a lot of dust over time and can provide a safe habitat for dust mites and other parasites to multiply. It is advisable that you replace draperies in your bedroom and living rooms with Venetian or roll up blinds. Avoid carpeting your bedroom, because carpets trap heat and moisture, and promote the growth of dust-mites. If you must continue using draperies or carpets at your home, make sure that you clean them regularly. Use an efficient vacuum cleaner with thicker cleaner bags to clean the carpets and draperies, so that the amount of airborne allergens is reduced. You may also use cleaning chemicals, if required, to kill the mites and neutralize the allergens.

Medicines for relief

You can take some medications for relief from the symptoms of dust mite allergies. Antihistamines are effective in reducing nasal congestion, sneezing, and irritation in the eyes. Anti-allergy medications like Benadryl allergy relief capsules and Piriteze syrup can give you instant relief from nasal and bronchial congestion. If you have asthma, consult a physician for a long-term treatment plan. Nasal sprays can come in handy when you are outside, especially during travel. Nasal sprays clear up the allergens trapped in the nasal cavity, and break up the congestion quickly and effectively.