Bedrooms harbor allergens like dust mites, dog hair, and cat dander. Learn how to make bedrooms asthma-safe havens by reducing and eliminating these allergens.
The bedroom can be an asthmanightmare, harboring allergens that trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions. But with proper planning and some strategic changes, you can eliminate the culprits and restore sweet dreams.
Prevent an Asthma Attack with Good Bed Hygiene
One common source of allergic reactions are the microscopic dust mites that thrive in the fabrics of most bedding. If an allergy test has determined that someone in your family is allergic to dust mites, investing in hypoallergenic mattress and pillow encasings and an air purifier is a good idea, says Michael Mellon, MD, a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego and chairman of the Pediatric Asthma Task Force for the San Diego Kaiser Region. You should also avoid “down feather pillows and comforters and install wooden flooring instead of carpeting," he suggests.
This advice works to limit exposure to dust mites for adults with asthma as well as children, say experts. But, it’s important to remember that in and of themselves dust-mite-proof mattress covers are not effective at preventing asthma attacks. For that, you need to declare all-out war on all allergens. “There is one study that shows that a comprehensive intervention — reducing cockroaches, [increasing] moisture, air purification, and dust mite covers — did have clinical benefit,” says Felicia Rabito, PhD, MPH, associate professor in the department of epidemiology at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans. Unfortunately, though, you can’t accomplish all of those things at once, she adds.
Rabito and her team have studied allergen interventions such as dust mite covers and recently published data linking high humidity in homes to a worsening of asthma symptoms, called an exacerbation. Where you find humidity, you also find dust mites and cockroaches, Rabito says. “The whole idea is to reduce dust mites," Rabito says. "And the way you reduce them is you don’t have a lot of fabric in your room, and the fabric you do have you must wash weekly in very, very hot water.” You can steam-clean upholstered headboards and other pieces of furniture, but it might be best to replace them with hard surfaces.
Reducing Allergic Reactions in the Bedroom
With a small investment and a rigorous cleaning routine, you can control the dust mites in your bedding that cause allergic reactions. Here’s how:
- Use dust-mite-proof mattress and pillow covers. Make sure you use high-quality covers, says Rabito.
- Wash all bedding (sheets, blankets, pillows, comforters) every week in hot water: higher than 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Do not lie or sleep on cloth-covered furniture or cushions.
- Do not allow children with asthma to sleep with stuffed toys, and wash the toys weekly in hot water.
Create Bedrooms That Are Allergen-Free Zones
You need to think beyond just dust mites, however, when you take up the fight against allergic reactions in a bedroom. Cockroaches, pet hair, pet dander, mold and mildew, and gases such as nitrogen dioxide from other parts of the house can all trigger an asthma attack.
Of these, Rabito says, exposure to cockroaches is most closely linked to increased asthma attacks. “If you are cockroach sensitive, there does appear to be a relationship between current cockroach exposure and clinical outcome,” she reports. She advises a three-pronged approach to fighting the insects: prevent them from entering the home, don’t leave food where they can get to it, and use roach traps or gels to kill them.
Other steps you can take to reduce allergic reactions in the bedroom include:
- Keep pets out of your bedroom and keep the bedroom door closed.
- Do not use wood-burning stoves or allow smoking anywhere in your home.
- Keep humidity below 50 percent. Humidity encourages dust mites as well as roaches.
Turning bedrooms into allergen-free zones can make a real difference in your family’s health and significantly reduce the likelihood of someone suffering an asthma attack. And then you can all sleep more soundly.
