Articles – Enviro Health Solutions

Upon birth, almost all newborn’s immune systems react to specific environmental factors transferred from mother to child during pregnancy. It is a form of maternal education into her ‘world’ and demonstrates that the child’s immune system may be immature, but not inexperienced. In this article it is the genetically vulnerable foetus, continually exposed to maternal dust mite allergen Der p1 that is the focus of attention. The development of early asthma is the concern.

Early in life a developing foetus swallows amniotic fluid to test and absorb elements from the mother’s diet and the air she breathes. Not all the encounters are helpful. For example exposure to nicotine from tobacco smoke, or, for those genetically predisposed to allergy, contact to proteins such as from birch tree pollen, timothy grass, a whey protein from cow or sheep’s milk can lead to problems. Exposure to these and more potential allergens may set the foetus on a pathway towards allergy as unique genes switch on, then off again, to set patterns for life. Nicotine from tobacco is especially harmful as it can amplify immune reactions in the foetal environment.

The vulnerable foetus Genes and the environment present two distinct pathways towards immune tolerance or an ‘early warning’ reaction. In very early life scientists report that both genes and the environment can impact simultaneously, thus setting patterns for future life. Following birth, the immune testing of the environment continues and accelerates.

House dust mites Over 12 years ago doctors, investigating pregnant women who were continually exposed to dust mite allergens during pregnancy, reported the presence of the major mite allergen (Der p1) in foetal fluid at 16 to 17 weeks of gestation. The women had all undergone amniocentesis at that time and chose to continue their pregnancy to full term. At 22 weeks foetal immune response to Der p1 was detected. Continuing the study to full term, the doctors noted that, in some cases, Der p1 was found to be at higher levels in blood and urine of the newborn than in that of the mother. They were surprised to note in one case Der p1 was significantly (110%) higher in the newborn than in the mother’s blood, whereas, in the amniotic fluid at 16 weeks gestation Der p1 can be barely detectable. This finding led the research team to speculate that foetal exposure to Der p1 can be accumulative. It is of interest to note that at full term the baby is swallowing 700 mL of amniotic fluid per day and is able to absorb 10% of the macromolecules within the fluid.

Der p1 is an active digestive enzyme considered small enough to cross the placenta into the amniotic fluid. The enzyme is known to ‘cleave’ important elements that bind cells together causing cell death and a breach in lung defences. What influence Der p1 has on a developing (genetically vulnerable) foetus has yet to be fully described, however performance of the gene ADAM33, so called ‘asthma gene’, can present a clue.

ADAM33 ??? the asthma gene Clusters of genes are associated with allergy and lung disease, but one of the most well studied and interesting is ADAM33. This gene (discovered in 2002) normally sits quietly as a connective tissue component tethered to cells such as in the smooth muscle located just underneath lung cells. However, if damaged by ‘cleaving’ it can turn into an active enzyme creating a tunnelling system of micro-blood vessels and thickening of the smooth muscle. The reason for the increase in blood vessels is to help deliver powerful immune defences that will swing into action upon invasion of pathogens, be they viral, bacterial or recognised allergens. Der p1 from dust mites can be considered in this grouping. Scientists suspect ADAM33 may be ‘cleaved’ before or shortly following birth thus creating a protective immune system primed to react to environmental insults later in life. In this scenario ADAM33 is not alone. There are other candidate genes such as Matrix metalloproteinase 12, but that’s another story.

ADAM33 is a life long resident in lung tissue. Repeated morphing of the ‘asthma gene’ in its microenvironment may result in altered barrier function and disordered lung tissue, (known as remodelling) a syndrome of many respiratory diseases, in young and old alike.

Research findings Doctors report that a loss of lung-power can be detected as early as 4 weeks of age. However, recently a clinical study demonstrated that children, at high-risk from asthma, can be protected from the disease through environmental and dietary manipulation. The children were followed from infancy through to eighteen years of age. The report on the study states, ‘early intervention within the first few months of life is likely to be crucial in preventing the remodelling of airways which is the hallmark of asthma’.

Dust Mites Cause Allergy In Babies

https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(16)30849-1/pdf

The information provided in this fact sheet should not be a substitute for seeking responsible, professional medical care.

House Dust Mite Allergy and Eye Disease

http://housedustmite.com/pollens-mite-allergy-and-eye-disease

House dust mite allergy might be stealing your sleep

Do you often wake up in the morning feeling almost as tired as when you went to bed? Maybe the answer lies with the around two million bunk buddies of yours better known as house dust mites. Their presence is no issue for most people, but if you are allergic to house dust mites, they can pose a big problem.

If you experience recurrent impairment of sleep and have a tendency of feeling a bit ill most of the year, it might be because of allergy caused by house dust mites. Many are unaware that they suffer from house dust mite allergy even though it can affect them heavily.

“House dust mites may be very small animals, but they are the most common trigger of indoor allergies, causing symptoms such as blocked nose, repetitive sneezing, breathing difficulties and watery eyes, all of which can lead to poor and interrupted sleep resulting in daytime sleepiness and fatigue. ”, says international renowned allergy expert at ALK Jørgen Nedergaard Larsen

The mites live in common household places such as beddings, mattresses, and carpeting , and although there are things you can do to minimise the amount of mites – see fact box – it is not possible to eliminate them completely.

Allergy affects both sleep and quality of life
One study has shown that allergy symptoms can impair sleep significantly and that the degree of impairment is comparable to the severity of the symptoms. Sleep problems like these can cause fatigue and daytime sleepiness, as well as decreased productivity at work or school, and further lead to impaired learning and memory, depression, and ultimately reduce your quality of life.

The symptoms to look for are:

blocked or runny nose
sneezing
itching and watering eyes
inflamed eyelids
shortness of breath
tight chest
coughing and wheezing

If you experience some of these symptoms all year round you might be suffering house dust mite allergy and could benefit from consulting your doctor for further clarification. Your doctor can help with diagnosis and the right treatment that can relieve your symptoms.

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https://www.alk.net/house-dust-mite-allergy-might-be-stealing-your-sleep

Eczema and the house dust mite (HDM)

Excessive exposure to house dust mites (HDM) can cause allergic rhinitis, asthma and eczema. In order to reduce exposure, doctors say it is essential to understand the how mites live and why they cause disease. Below are some simple facts about the mite and practical advice on how to keep beds and bedding mite free.

House Dust Mites (HDM)

House dust mites are tiny scavengers that live in colonies in dark, damp, warm, and still environments like carpet, sofas, beds and bedding. They eat a wide-range of organic debris including pollens, cotton fibre, dead insects, fungi or grain, but their favourite food consists of discarded old skin scales covered in bacteria, yeasts, fungi and micro-organisms.

Adult mites are blind, take in water and oxygen through their shell-like covering, and can produce up to 20 droppings a day. The droppings are water-soluble and light enough to be pushed into the air by disturbance where they can be breathed in or be deposited into eyes or on skin.

Importantly, the mite has no stomach but a chambered gut that produces powerful digestive enzymes designed to break down the wide-range of food that the mite eats. Both leftover hard-to-digest food, and the powerful enzymes can be found in mite droppings.

One of these enzymes is a major cause of allergy, because it can melt the glue that binds delicate cells together, killing the cells and creating a breach in the cell defences. The delicate cells at risk include those in the nose, lungs, or on vulnerable skin prone to eczema.

The life span of a single successful HDM is about three months. It measures approximately a third of a millimetre in length, is up to 75% water and, because of water transparency and size, is barely visible to the human eye.

A single travelling mite rarely survives, but a colony travelling on a vehicle such as second hand furniture, a pillow, sweater or blanket can travel the globe if the conditions are right.

Eczema

Eczema is described as a chronic, inflammatory, itchy skin condition that usually develops in early childhood and has a genetic link that often makes the skin barrier work less well. Chronic dry skin is a symptom of a flaw in the building blocks of the skin barrier. This leads to water loss causing dry skin.

A poorly working skin barrier can be made worse by things like irritants, allergens, infections, and changes in the weather. In eczema exposure to the enzymatic droppings from HDMs can act as both irritant, or allergen (resulting in a flare-up) and cause a breach in skin defences inviting bacterial infection to become established.

In order to combat the mite it is essential to understand a mites way of life and why it can cause allergic disease. We must also learn to recognise those who are vulnerable and at risk from mite exposure. This group includes young children born with dry skin and those who are sensitive or allergic to house dust mites.

Chronic itching, sneezing, coughing and wheezing, especially in children, are common telltale symptoms of allergy. Symptoms that young children may think are normal in growing up.

Tests completed on people with atopic dermatitis (eczema) demonstrate that a reduction of mite allergens improved the condition, greatly reducing the activity of atopic dermatitis in some people. There is a need to identify the people who would gain from this intervention.

P.S.Friedman, The Lancet, 347, 6th January 1996

The presence of house dust mites and their active digestive enzymes in a mattress, on sheets, in pillows or duvets is a risk factor in eczema. There are over 23 known and separate allergens from house dust mites, most of them are enzymes.

Statistics show that there is a greater incidence of allergic eczema before the age of seven with prevalence for the disease running at 10-12% of the populations. Manifestations of eczema are higher in families with a history of allergy. In those children affected 10 to 20% of these will continue to have eczema into late childhood. From this group it is estimated that 10 to 15% will experience persistent eczema in life.

The medical history of the disease

1892 It was first described in its clinical form by Besnier as an itching skin disorder associated with a family history of the disease, often starting in infancy and associated with asthma and hay fever. The disease took a chronic and fluctuating course with seasonal variations.

In 1902 the famous statement, still used today, describes the condition, ‘It was not the eruption that itched but the itch that erupted’.

In 1923 the term atopy was first used to describe allergy in its clinical form. ‘allergic reaction to a substance in the environment’.

In 1933 atopic dermatitis (eczema) was included in the group of allergic diseases. It was described then as, inherited and chronic weeping or dry skin conditions that is seen in childhood and adults.

http://housedustmite.com/eczema-and-the-house-dust-mite

Dust Mite Allergy Fact Sheet

Dust mites and their waste products are one of the most common causes of year-round allergy and asthma.

About 20 million Americans have dust mite allergy.

This fact sheet provides detailed information about the relationship between dust mites and allergies. We hope that this material helps you better understand what dust mites are, how they can trigger an allergic response, and how to manage them. Please keep in mind that this information is not meant to take the place of medical advice from your physician.

After learning from the pediatrician, that 7-year-old Jamie was allergic to things in the dust in their house his mother had to make a few changes to her housekeeping routine. She started in Jamie’s bedroom. She covered his mattress and pillow with special “dust proof” covers and washed his sheets and blankets in hot water every week. She also bought double thickness vacuum cleaner bags and was careful to vacuum the carpet when Jamie wasn’t around. Jamie’s allergy improved remarkably and he was able to reduce his medication and did not need allergy shots after all.

What is a dust mite?

Mites are primitive creatures that have no developed respiratory system and no eyes. Too small to be seen with the naked eye, a dust mite measures about one quarter to one third of a millimeter. Under the microscope, they can be seen as whitish, eight-legged bugs.

A dust mite’s life cycle consists of several stages, from egg to adult. Depending on the species, it takes anywhere from two to five weeks for an adult mite to develop from an egg. Adults may live for two to four months. A female mite lays as many as 100 eggs in her lifetime.

Where are dust mites found?

Dust mites thrive in temperatures of 68-77°F and relative humidity levels of 70-80%. There are at least 13 species of dust mites, all of which are well adapted to the environment inside the average home.

Studies show that more dust mites live in the bedroom than anywhere else in the home.

Dust mites feed primarily on the tiny flakes of human skin that people normally shed each day. An average adult person may shed up to 1.5 grams of skin in a day, an amount that can feed one million dust mites! These flakes of skin work their way deep into the inner layers of furniture, carpets, bedding, and even into stuffed toys — places where mites thrive.

What is dust mite allergy?

Household dust is a mixture of many materials. Dust may contain tiny fibers shed from different fabrics as well as tiny particles of food, plant and insect parts, mold and fungus spores, dander from pet dogs or cats, or feathers from birds. Dust also contains many microscopic mites and their waste products.

The waste products of dust mites — not the mites themselves — are what cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Throughout its short life span, a single dust mite may produce as much as 200 times its body weight in waste products. Dust mite waste contains a protein that is an allergen. An allergen is a substance that provokes an allergic reaction.

What is an allergy?

An allergy is an adverse reaction from an immune response to something that contacts the body, is inhaled, or ingested. The reactions include sneezing, wheezing, cough, itching, skin rashes, stomach pain, diarrhea, or even a fall in blood pressure which can cause dizziness or passing out. With proper management and education, people with allergies can lead healthy, normal lives.

Most dust mites die when exposed to low humidity levels or extreme temperatures. But they leave behind their waste products, which can continue to cause allergic reactions.

How can I find out if I am allergic to dust mites?

Work with your physician or other health care provider to determine if you are allergic to dust mites. Your physician will ask you questions about your symptoms; when you have the symptoms; and about your home, work, or school environment. Your physician may also perform a simple test to determine if you are allergic to dust mites. This can be a blood test or a skin-prick test

What causes dust mites to live and breed?

In most areas of the world, these creatures are in every house, no matter how immaculate. Having dust mites doesn’t mean that your house isn’t clean. But it is true that keeping your home as free of dust as possible can lessen exposure to dust mite waste and reduce the potential for an allergic response for sensitive individuals.

You should know . . . In a warm, humid house, dust mites can easily survive year round.

How can dust mites be managed?

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Vacuuming and dusting the house on a frequent basis is not enough to remove dust mites and their waste. Up to 95% of mites may remain after vacuuming because they live deep inside the stuffing of upholstered furniture, mattresses, pillows, carpets, stuffed animals, and toys.

Dust mites are probably impossible to avoid completely. Still, they don’t have to make your life miserable. There are many ways you can change the environment inside your home to reduce your exposure to dust mites and their waste products.

Cover mattresses and pillows. Use a zippered, dust- proof cover. These covers are made of a material with pores too small to let dust mites and their waste products get through. They are referred to as allergen- impermeable. Plastic or vinyl covers are the least expensive, but some people find them uncomfortable. Allergen impermeable covers made of fabric can be purchased from allergy supply companies as well as from many stores selling bedding products.

Launder effectively. Wash sheets, blankets, bedspreads, duvet covers, and comforters every week. Water temperatures of at least 130° F are needed to kill dust mites.

Eliminate dust mite havens. Wherever possible, try to rid the bedroom of all types of materials that mites love. Choose washable bedding and toys. Try to limit the number of stuffed toys and upholstered furniture. Avoid use of wall-to-wall carpeting if possible. Keep pets out of this room as well. Roll up shades are easier to clean than fabric curtains, but if you do have curtains, be sure to wash them often.

Clean wisely.

• Ideally, someone without dust mite allergy should clean the bedroom. If this is not possible, then wear a filtering mask when dusting or vacuuming. Many drug stores carry these items. Because dusting and vacuuming stir up dust, try to do these chores at a time of day when you can stay out of the bedroom for a while afterward.

• Use a damp cloth for dusting.

• Special vacuum cleaner bags (microfiltration bags)

are available which help reduce the amount of dust, which gets stirred up during vacuuming. Special filters for vacuum cleaners can also help keep mites and mite waste from circulating back into the air. You can buy these bags and filters in large department stores and from an allergy supply company or in some specialty vacuum stores.

• Wash rugs in hot water whenever possible. Cold water leaves up to 10% of mites behind. Dry cleaning kills all mites and is also good for removing dust from fabrics.

Decorate appropriately. Other rooms in your house can be treated similarly to the bedroom. Avoid having wall-to-wall carpeting, if possible. If you do use carpeting, the type with a short, tight pile is less hospitable to mites than the loose pile or shag type. Better still are washable throw rugs over regularly damp-mopped wood, linoleum, or tiled floors.

Reduce household humidity. Use a dehumidifier and/or air conditioner to keep humidity in your home at less than 50%. Reducing humidity is one of the easiest ways to control dust mites.

What is the treatment for dust mite allergy?

Enviro Health Solutions can help you with a permanent solution to dust mites with our exclusive sterilizing technology and air quality systems.

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American beds are crawling with dust mites – and their waste.

Common Cause Of Allergy

Dust Mite Allergy and Asthma

American Lung Assocition:Dust Mites

What Are Dust Mites?

Dust mites are microscopic, insect-like pests that generate some of the most common indoor substances—or allergens—that can trigger allergic reactions and asthma in many people. Hundreds of thousands of dust mites can live in the bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpets or curtains in your home. They feed on the dead human skin cells found in dust.

Dust mites are not parasites; they don’t bite, sting or burrow into our bodies. The harmful allergen they create comes from their fecal pellets and body fragments. Dust mites are nearly everywhere; roughly four out of five homes in the United States have detectable levels of dust mite allergen in at least one bed.¹

How Do Dust Mite Allergens Affect Health?

Mites are one of the major indoor triggers for people with allergies and asthma. ²

Chronic, ongoing exposure to dust mites at home can dramatically impact the health of people with asthma and those who are allergic or particularly sensitive to mites. These allergens cause an immune system response, known as allergic rhinitis. A dust mite allergy can range from mild to severe. A mild case may cause an occasional runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. In severe cases, the condition is ongoing, or chronic, resulting in persistent sneezing, cough, congestion, facial pressure or severe asthma attack. People with asthma who are sensitive to mites face an increased risk of flare-ups or asthma attack.³

Where Do Dust Mites Come From?

Dust mites occur naturally and can appear in nearly all homes. Humidity is the most important factor in determining whether a house has high concentrations of dust mites. Dust mites do not drink water like we do; they absorb moisture from the air. In areas with low humidity, like deserts, dust mites cannot survive.

Who Should Be Concerned about Dust Mites?

People with allergies to dust mites or with asthma triggered by dust mite allergies need to reduce dust mites in their homes. Older homes, homes located in regions with humid climates, lower income residences and homes where a musty or mildew odor is present are more likely to have high concentrations of dust mites.¹

Dust mite allergens, unlike pet allergens, do not usually stay airborne. They cling to particles that are too heavy to remain in the air for long. Dust mite allergens settle within minutes into dust or fabrics, such as pillows, bedding or upholstered furniture, which serve as nests. Most exposure to dust mite allergens occurs while sleeping and when dust is disturbed during bed-making or other movements.²

How Can Dust Mites Be Eliminated?

You can take action to reduce or eliminate dust mites in your home.

Reduce humidity. To minimize the growth of dust mites, keep your home below 50 percent humidity. In humid areas, air conditioning and dehumidifiers can help. On dry days, open your windows for one hour per day to help remove humidity from the house.²
Reduce the places where dust mites can grow. Remove some of the furniture or use furniture with smooth surfaces, eliminate drapes and curtains, and cover mattresses and pillows to reduce dust mites. Wash bedding in hot water once a week.
Replace carpets. Carpeting should be removed from the home, especially if occupants are allergic to dust mites.²
Damp mop floors often. If you must retain the carpet, use a vacuum cleaner with a high efficiency filter or a central vacuum cleaner. When dusting, use a damp mop or damp cloth to reduce the amount of dust stirred up when cleaning.
Sources
1. Arbes, Samuel J., Richard D. Cohn, Ming Yin, Michael L. Muilenburg, Harriet A. Burge, Warren Friedman and Darryl C. Zeldin. “House Dust Mite Allergen in U.S. Beds: Results from the First National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 111.2 (2003): 408-14.
2. Institute of Medicine, Division of Health Promotion, Indoor Air and Disease Prevention. Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 2000; Kanchongkittiphon W, et al. Indoor Environmental Exposures of Asthma: An Update to the 2000 Review by the Institute of Medicine. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2015; 123: 6-20.
3. California Air Resources Board (CARB). 2005. Report to the California Legislature: Indoor Air Pollution in California. Sacramento, CA: California Environmental Protection Agency.
4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Asthma Triggers: Gain Control Dust Mites. Accessed August 26, 2015.

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ALLERGY IN THE ELDERLY: THE HIDDEN HEALTH DANGERS OF DUST ALLERGENS

Allergens such as dust mites can have adverse health effects on your ageing loved ones. Breathe easy with these tips on how to minimise their risk of allergy-related health issues

by Delle Chan

Allergens are a universal bane, but they are especially dangerous for the elderly. As we age, our immune system becomes weaker thus making us more susceptible to various health conditions including cardiovascular and respiratory issues such as bronchitis and heart disease.

This is often exacerbated by dust allergens, which can increase the likelihood of developing new health problems as well as complicate existing conditions. If you are living with ageing parents or relatives, here are some things to consider when it comes to allergies and the elderly, and what you can do to help.

WHAT ARE THE HIDDEN DANGERS FOR THE ELDERLY?

Developing new conditions

Allergies are generally more common in children and adults as compared to the elderly because our immune systems become weaker as we age, and no longer react as much to allergens. An ageing immune system also means an increased susceptibility to diseases and complicated health issues resulting from exposure to dust allergens.

This often happens when older people are exposed to a new environment with a markedly differently air quality that can trigger more severe health conditions such as bronchitis and even an increased risk of stroke.

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According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), senior citizens aged 45 and older with a history of hay fever can have up to an 87% higher risk of stroke. This may be due to the fact that an allergy reaction triggers an inflammatory response, which in turn increases the likelihood of a stroke.

Also, allergies are often underdiagnosed in the elderly, as doctors are usually more focused on more major health issues. Often, ailments like coughing and congestion can be mistaken as symptoms of other health conditions such as heart disease and emphysema, a lung condition that causes breathing problems.

Complicating existing conditions

Dust allergens may aggravate and trigger pre-existing ailments too. Symptoms such as coughing and nasal congestion may also pose severe consequences for an older adult who already has chronic cardiovascular or respiratory issues.

Furthermore, common allergy remedies like antihistamines may interact with other medications and cause adverse side effects such as high blood pressure and dizziness – all of which can prove detrimental to the health of a senior.

HOW CAN WE MINIMIZE AND ELIMINATE THESE RISKS?

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