"Beds are being used as tabletops and it's having an effect on our health," he says. Well, consider looking under the covers and cleaning up your act this spring.
According to Toronto family hysician Dr. Vivien Brown, your sleep environment impacts sleep quality, and ultimately, your overall well-being.
Good sleep hygiene is crucial, says Brown, a family physician in Toronto. "Sleep is an essential part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and being refreshed and energized - a poor night's sleep will affect your mood, memory and productivity."
And when it comes to bedroom hygiene, dust mites and their millions of droppings we inhale are a major nuisance. And, even worse, these creepy crawlies torment asthmatics and dust-sensitive allergy sufferers; and with seasonal allergens swirling all around us at this time of year, it can bug sufferers enormously.
"Allergies are on the rise and although there's not much you can do about the general air quality outside, there's lots you can do about the air quality in your living space.'' says Brown.
David Doyle, of Allergy Relief Cleaning Services, has seen it all when it comes to dust -- bunnies, mites and more. "Pillows, after eight years, are 80% filled with dust mite feces. And many keep the same pillow for 10 years or more. People have to wash them and get their mattresses cleaned too - there are a few million mites living in your bed and blankets.''
And vacuuming can actually aggravate the problem, if you don't use a hepa-filter. "Dust is the No. 1 culprit in homes today."
Doyle, of allergyreliefcleaning.com, recommends minimizing the level of bacteria, allergens and dust mites in your home - whether you have allergies or not -- by having your mattresses and carpets professionally cleaned and treated regularly.
