 |
TORONTO -- So who are you going to be cosying up in bed with tonight? Rest assured it'll be with more than your partner. You'd be surprised at just who else is sharing your bed - and actually eating your skin.
According to the experts, your mattress houses millions of dust mites, along with mounds of human skin cells, dust, dirt, debris, droppings and litres of sweat residue.
And that's not all - add to that dander, fur and leftovers.
Seems there's a lot more going on in our beds than just sleeping - and it's not what you think!
A new survey by the Better Sleep Council Canada (BSCC) reports that nearly half of Canadians admit to cuddling with their pets, and eating and drinking in bed. That means pet hair and dander, and spills and crumbs are all building up in your bed, particularly deep inside your mattress - "just what these little critters love," says Gary Baskerville, spokesman for the BSCC.
It's an ideal breeding ground: These ugly microscopic (invisible to the naked eye) creatures thrive in the millions in the warmth, humidity and endless food supplies provided by mattresses and bedding. And that's not all - in return they drop feces wherever they go, up to 100 fecal pellets a day! "You can only imagine the excrement left behind by hundreds of thousands of dust mites over the course of a year!''
And studies show the house dust mite feces is a major allergen trigger, making life miserable for many.
Adding to the mix, Baskerville says that studies show at least 15% of us fall asleep with our clothes on and a large percentage are not only snacking, but actually eating full meals in bed.
|
"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.