(ARA) - 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 nights 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.
For more information about the SLEEP NUMBER bed or other allergen-barrier bedding, call (800) 535-BEDS or visit www.selectcomfort.com. Unlike traditional innerspring mattresses, the firmness of a Sleep Number bed can be personally adjusted for comfort. The dual-adjustable air chambers allow each individual to set their side of the bed to their firmness preference -- their Sleep Number -- without affecting their partners choice. A Sleep Number is a number between zero and 100 that represents each persons ideal combination of mattress comfort, firmness and support.
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About The Author
Courtesy of ARA Content
EDITORS NOTE: Founded in 1987, Select Comfort Corporation is the nations leading bed retailer (Top 25 bedding retailers, Furniture Today, May 24, 2004), holding 26 U.S. issued or pending patents for its personalized sleep products. The company designs, manufactures and markets a line of adjustable-firmness mattresses featuring air-chamber technology, including the Sleep Number bed, as well as foundations and sleep accessories.
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