Just in Case: Some Asthma Pillow Talk

There are pathogens all around us. One has to be especially careful about the pathogens in our beds and pillows, since the mattresses on the beds and the pillows are filled with some stuffing material. The pillow cases and the bed sheets may be replaced and washed every week or so, but we do not change mattresses or pillows for years together and at times do not even air them for long periods. Hence, the pathogens get embedded in the stuffing of the pillows and may bother us by giving us some allergies! All of us need to keep this fact about pillows and mattresses in mind, especially people with Asthma.

What kind of microscopic creatures might be sharing our beds with us?
Dust mites, bacteria, fungus, and mold number among the unwanted guests in our bedding. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences states that 45 percent of U.S. bedrooms harbor dust mite concentrations that exceed allergic sensitivity levels.

Do we need to be alarmed about the possible presence of millions of microscopic bugs and bacteria within our homes?
Not necessarily, but it may be a good idea to take some precautions to keep your home as clean and aired-out as possible, particularly if anyone living there suffers from chronic asthma, allergies, or respiratory problems.

To keep pathogens and allergens at a low level in our homes especially in the bedrooms, we should replace our pillows every two years, to avoid building up of dust and bacteria in the pillows and development of some allergies that may become chronic if this problem is not addressed.

An option of getting allergen-barrier bedding protectors does exist; this bedding protects the user form irritants and pathogens in the pillows as well as mattresses.

Another way to keep surroundings clean is to wash the bedding on a weekly basis in hot water, and try to get the bedroom carpets and curtains steam cleaned

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology published a study in January 2003 which addresses the effect of mattress and pillow casings on children with asthma and dust mite allergies. House dust mite allergy is a frequent cause of allergic asthma in children. The study tested sixty children in Denmark, and concludes that children with allergy asthma could significantly reduce asthma symptoms and the need for medication after changing to bedding encased in allergy-proof materials.

Thus in addition to replacing pillows every six months to two years, many doctors also recommend allergen-resistant pillow and mattress coverings. You might try encasing pillows with zippered plastic or vapor permeable fabrics.

Hypoallergenic pillows made from polyester fibers are also a good option. Polyurethane-covered mattress and bedding encasings are impermeable to allergens but absorb perspiration, allowing the body to 'breathe'. Even allergy sufferers can use down pillows as long as the down is classified as hypoallergenic, which means the down was extensively cleaned with specialized soaps.

Where you live and the airtight quality of your home bears on the potential level of dust mites and other allergens in your bedding. The more well-sealed the home, the greater potential that allergens will be trapped inside.

On the other hand, dusty climates and poorly sealed homes allow more dust to blow inside. Those living in particularly dusty or humid and moldy regions will want to replace their pillow more frequently than every one to two years.

All experts agree that to combat pathogens, bacteria and dust mites in your bedrooms one must get the bedding laundered in hot water and replace pillows frequently.

For asthma patients, replacing pillows once every year would be a good idea.