Are Pests Making My Allergies Worse?
Seasonal allergies can get pretty severe in Texas, but certain pests can make allergies a year-round nuisance! If you or members of your household are experiencing allergic symptoms on a regular basis at home, calling an exterminator might actually do more good than buying another air freshener.
Still skeptical? Here are three types of common household pests that can trigger or worsen allergies.
1. Cockroaches
Because of their ability to adapt to a broad range of temperatures and environments, cockroaches are a common pest in American homes. There are a number of health-related reasons that cockroaches should be kept out of homes. For one, cockroach skins carry a plethora of bacteria and have been known to harbor numerous diseases as well. In addition, cockroaches leave behind a large amount of bodily waste, including shedded skins, saliva, and fecal matter.
All this waste that cockroaches leave behind can trigger a number of allergic symptoms, including coughing, nasal congestion, postnasal drip, rashes, itchy, watery eyes, and ear infections, as well as asthma attacks. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of cockroach waste. Studies from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology have found that 60 percent of U.S. homes (and as many as 98 percent of homes in highly populated areas) contain cockroach-related allergens.
2. Dust Mites
20 million Americans suffer from a persistent cough, a runny nose, or watery eyes on a regular basis, all because of these minute but “mighty” pests. If your home has a dust mite infestation that’s triggering your allergies, unfortunately, you won’t be able to go looking for the dust mites to find out. Dust mites are so small that they are only visible beneath a microscope.
Dust mites can thrive where humans live because our homes offer these pests their number one food source: dead skin. In addition, most people’s preferred temperature range for their homes (68 to 77 degrees) happens to be dust mites’ preferred temperature range as well. While people provide warm temperatures and leave behind skin that dust mites love to feed on, dust mites only leave behind waste that triggers allergic symptoms.
3. Rats and Mice
A rodent infestation can pose a number of problems for a household, particularly a sanitation problem. With rats and mice come their dander, saliva, feces, and urine, all of which can reduce your home’s hygiene and contribute to illness, allergic symptoms, and asthma attacks in your household.
The symptoms associated with mice or rat allergies are broad and vary. Some of the more common symptoms include nausea, nasal congestion, rashes, and eczema. Certain people will experience an especially serious allergic reaction if exposed to rat urine and droppings because of a particular type of protein that rat waste contains.
For unmatched pest control services that will improve your living conditions, contact Bug Commander Pest Control today for top-of-the-line chemical and organic treatments, quality services at affordable prices, and family-friendly flexible scheduling.