What are some of the indoor asthma “triggers”?
House Dust Mites Dust mites are tiny insects that you cannot see. The mite waste products and body parts of dust mites can trigger asthma. There are some ways to help reduce exposure to dust mites: • Encase the mattress, box spring and pillows of your bed in mite-proof encasements. (These should be purchased from an allergy supply store since those sold for general use may be too thin or may have tiny holes that allow the mites to pass through.) You do not need to wash the encasements, just wipe them with a damp cloth and check for rips or tears that would allow mites to pass through. • Wash all bedding in hot water (>130°F) once a week to kill dust mites. (If you have small children in the home, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that your water heater not be set higher than 120 degrees.) Washable pillows may also be washed in hot water instead of using an encasement. • If at all possible, there should not be carpeting in the bedroom of someone who is sensitive to dust mite
