Does it seem like your asthma has been acting up more often as of late? Do you seem to be having more attacks or attacks that are more serious in nature? While there are a number of well-known things that contribute to asthma, there are also other things in your home that can be acting like a trigger that you hadn’t even thought of. One culprit of your rise in asthma symptoms and attacks could be your mattress. That’s right, the mattress you sleep on each and every night could be doing you more harm than good.
Here we’ll take a look at why a new mattress could be the secret to better manage your asthma.
You Mattress is a Breeding Ground for Potential Asthma Triggers
While your mattress may appear clean to the naked eye, and you are consistent about washing your sheets on a regular basis, the fact is that your mattress is nothing more than a breeding ground of potential asthma attack triggers.
Your mattress is typically filled with dust mites that are busy eating the dead skin that people naturally shed off their bodies. As the dead skin is shed and the number of dust mites grows, and they leave behind fecal matter, it can end up doubling the weight of your mattress in just eight years.
Give that some thought, if your mattress is around that eight-year mark, it could be double its weight due to potential triggers.
One of the first steps you can take is to ensure that you are vacuuming your mattress on a regular basis, ideally each time you change the sheets. As well, you can invest in a hypoallergenic mattress cover. If your mattress is more than a few years old though, it may already be too late.
Additional Triggers
And it’s not just the dust mites that are culprits, there are also things such as pet dander, mildew, and mould that can grow, and even chemical components. Any one of these on their own can trigger an attack, never mind when they all combine together in the mattress.
Don’t Stop at the Mattress
And while you’re busy purchasing a new mattress, there is no reason you need to stop there. New bedding is also an excellent idea as those same dust mites and dander can also be trapped in your bedding – especially if it’s older. When it comes to the best duvet to buy when suffering from asthma, you want to avoid anything that has feathers or latex in it. Both of these can act as triggers for your asthma.
Wool filled duvets are worth checking out. Something like an organic wool duvet, such as the ones available through Urban Wool which are available for all bed sizes (including cots if your baby is suffering with their asthma) can make a comfortable, cosy, and non-triggering option. This site also stocks high-quality luxury mattress toppers that can be laundered on a regular basis. A natural mattress topper is excellent at controlling allergens that traditionally get trapped in the mattress.
Start Reducing the Symptoms
So, while there are many things you can do in the home to help eliminate the number of asthma triggers, it’s wise to also consider how helpful a new mattress would be.
