4 ways your bedroom is adding to your breathing problems 

If you're living with a breathing disorder like asthma or COPD, spring cleaning isn't simply a chore to tackle on your to-do list. If it's not done properly, cleaning could trigger asthma symptoms or send you into an asthma attack.

Since we spend about a third of our day sleeping, making sure your bedroom has minimal asthma triggers is of utmost importance. Here, we'll share environmental factors in your bedroom that can exacerbate asthma triggers.

 

You've got hungry dust mites living there.

 

“Airborne allergens are the most common asthma trigger, and the most common airborne allergen trigger is dust and and dust mites." says Cheryl Nickerson, registered respiratory therapist and certified asthma educator. Microscopic dust mites live in cloth surfaces, such as pillows, mattresses, and blankets that come in contact with our bodies. “They like these environments because they survive by feeding off dead flakes of skin that we shed and become trapped in our bedding," says Nickerson. After they eat our skin, their waste products and mite body parts trigger asthma symptoms. (Eww. Is anyone else scratching while reading this?) While these critters can be found anywhere in your home, they tend to be found in highest numbers in our bedrooms.

General recommendations, to help reduce the number of dust mites lingering in your bedroom, take action:

• Encase pillows, mattresses, and box springs in zippered dust mite-proof covers. Wash sheets and blankets once a week in very hot water (130°F or higher) to kill dust mites.
   
• Avoid upholstered furniture, window mini-blinds, and carpeting, especially in a child's bedroom. Use washable curtains and vinyl window shades that can be wiped down.

 

• Dust and vacuum weekly. If possible, use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (high- efficiency particulate air) filter to collect and trap dust mites that become airborne during vacuuming.

        

• Use an air purifier appropriate for your bedroom size with a HEPA filter that actually cleans the air. Change the filters regularly.

 

• Reduce dust-collecting items in your bedroom, like books, knickknacks, and stuffed animals. Washable stuffed animals should be laundered weekly in hot water, or, if the stuffed animal can't be washed, place him in a plastic bag in the freezer for 24 hours to kill the dust mites. (Seriously!)

• Dehumidify if your home is damp and keep the humidity level below 50%.

 

Your humidifier could be doing more harm than good.

 

While you might think that running a humidifier will help you breathe better by adding moisture to dry air (particularly in the winter), for many people, a humidifier can contribute to asthma triggers, says Nickerson. While dry air can irritate eyes, skin, sinuses and the airways of lungs which can contribute to an increase in asthma and sinus symptoms, it's important to strike a balance in humidifying the air in our homes, she advises.

 

“Overuse of humidifiers may result in growth of mold and mildew and promote dust mite infestation," she says.

Some general tips to keep in mind when selecting a humidifier:

• Choose one with controllable humidity levels.
  
  
• Keep humidity levels between 30 and 50%.
          
• Clean the humidifier per the manufacturer's instructions to reduce issues with mold, mildew, and other bacteria.