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Q: My allergist says I'm allergic to mites; how do I avoid them?
A: Since you have become sensitized to house dust mites (HDMs), minimizing your exposure to the little critters in your bedroom will improve your asthma control and allow you to eventually reduce your need for asthma medications.
The first step is to put allergen proof covers on your mattress, box springs, and pillows. This will cost about $40, depending on the size of your bed. Wash all of your bedding in HOT water every other week. This kills the critters, which depend on your skin and body moisture to stay alive.
Remove all dust collectors (allergen reservoirs) from your bedroom, and avoid sitting on upholstered furniture. Mites love to inhabit upholstery, and sitting on a sofa or chair will aerosolize their tiny little feces, a puff of allergenic dust which then gets deep into your airways and causes them to be inflammed for several hours. If possible, remove wall-to-wall carpeting in your bedroom.
Get a $20 humidity meter from Radio Shack, and use it to ensure that the humidity in your bedroom stays below 40%. Low humidity inhibits their sexual activity, so air conditioning will help in the summer. A room dehumidifier will work for seasons where air conditioning is undesirable.
A room air cleaner won't help to lower your exposure to HDMs, since their feces don't circulate in the air for more than a few minutes. Powders sold to kill mites are a waste of money. Duct cleaning is also of no value for reducing your exposure to mites, since they can't live even in dirty ductwork, since they need to eat your skin flakes.
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