Asthma Triggers Thrive This Autumn, Australia

Warning as conditions create a storm for asthma and allergy sufferers.

Local residents with asthma are being warned to be extra vigilant this autumn, as the season delivers a trifecta of asthma triggers - mould, more dust mites and increased exposure to pet allergens.

According to National Asthma Council Australia Chief Executive Officer, Kristine Whorlow, these three nasties are the leading triggers of asthma in Australia.

"Many areas of Australia are experiencing mould problems following an unseasonal wet start to the year; there is an annual autumn indoor dust mite population spike; and, some people face increased exposure to pet allergens as soft-hearted pet owners allow their four legged friends more household access as temperatures plunge," Kristine Whorlow explained.

"This can all add up to make autumn pretty miserable for many people."

Kristine Whorlow points the finger at house dust mites as the biggest problem.

"Around 45 per cent of the population have an allergy and of those people, almost 80 per cent react to dust mites.

"In fact, dust mites are the number one trigger for asthma in Australia and research from Sydney's Woolcock Institute of Medical Research has shown that dust mite levels can increase two to three fold during late autumn, compared with summer levels1," she said.

House dust mites are microscopic creatures that feed off human skin scales. They are mostly found in the home and live in soft furnishing such as beds, bedding, carpets, upholstered furniture, soft toys and clothing.

Kristine Whorlow said the bedroom is the site of greatest exposure to the pesky mite, however, there are a number of avoidance measures and tips to reduce exposure to allergen triggers.

Typical control measures include:

- washing sheets and pillow cases weekly in water hotter than 55oC.
- covering mattress, pillow and quilt with dust mite resistant covers, which must be washed every two months.
- removing soft toys or hot washing them weekly or freezing them overnight.
- dusting hard floors and surfaces with a damp or electrostatic cloth.
- cleaning carpets weekly using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.

"It's important to remember that dust mite allergy is a perennial problem and dust mite control measures need to be adhered to year round - not just in autumn," Kristine Whorlow warned.

Sourced: http://www.medilexicon.com, 18 April 2011