The Average Mattress contains 2 million house dust mites. Here are some quick facts about dust mites and the dust mite allergy. * Much smaller than a grain of sand, dust mites are too tiny to be seen with the human eye.
* At least 10% of the human population and approximately 80% of allergy sufferers are allergic to proteins that are found in the waste and decomposed body parts of dust mites.
* Dust mite allergen is the number one cause of perennial allergic rhinitis.
* If you often wake up with congestion, a runny nose, watery eyes, itching, or sneezing, then you are probably allergic to dust mites.
* Dust mites flourish in warm, humid environments.
* Your bed is the perfect environment for dust mites; they love to burrow into fabric and feast on your dead skin cells. Humans shed one to three pounds of skin a year, plenty of food for millions of dust mites.
* A gram (about a half teaspoon) of dust contains as many as 1,000 dust mites and 250,000 allergenic dust mite fecal pellets.
* Dust mite populations increase rapidly. Each egg-laying female can increase the population by 25 or 30 new mites per week.
* Depending on its age, your mattress may house between one million and ten million dust mites. It is important to change your mattress after the recommended time period for healthy sleeping.
* During its 80-day lifespan, the average dust mite produces about 1,000 allergen waste particles.
* The weight of the average mattress doubles after ten years due to dust mite infestation, and the weight of the average pillow increases 10% after one year.
* Dust mite populations peak during the hot, humid months of July and August.
* Dust mites grow best at 75-80% relative humidity, and they cannot survive when the humidity is below 50%.
* A Johns Hopkins University study showed that “mite population and allergen levels decreased by 90% or more within a month of placing mattress and pillow covers and treating bedding. We offer a range of Allergy Bedding for your home that will provide a barrier between you, dust mites and allergens for a healthier night’s sleep.
* You can help to control your Dust mite allergy by using scientifically-proven environmental control devices, specifically HEPA filtration and dust mite allergy covers.