What Pests Can Affect People With Asthma?

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. What does that have to do with everyday pests? Quite a bit.

Asthma is a respiratory condition where a person’s airways become inflamed, narrowed, swollen, and filled with mucus, making breathing difficult. Additional symptoms can include chest pain, wheezing, and coughing. Asthma often flares when an individual is exposed to allergens or environmental triggers to which they have a particular sensitivity. Did you know that some common household pests are among the top asthma triggers?

What Are the Most Common Asthma Triggers?

Certain bugs and all rodents are near the top of the list of common asthma triggers. Other triggers include tobacco smoke, air pollution, mold, cleaning products, and pets.

Asthma may also be triggered by non-environmental factors like stress or strong emotions.

What Bugs Trigger Asthma?

Any bugs that leave droppings or shed body parts can be problematic for those with asthma. These leavings can degrade into dust and become airborne – irritating the human respiratory system, triggering allergies and asthma. The worst offenders are cockroaches, dust mites, and bedbugs.

• Cockroaches are large insects known to be one of the leading causes of asthma. They are especially prevalent in urban areas, and children are particularly sensitive to the allergens produced by cockroaches. Cockroach droppings are visible to the naked eye, resembling black pepper or coffee grounds. This waste causes inflammation of the respiratory system and may trigger allergies and asthma.
• Dust mites are microscopic arthropods – related to ticks and spiders. Dust mites eat dead skin cells shed by humans or pets and then excrete waste consisting of enzymes and undigested food. This waste settles in furniture, bedding, curtains, and house dust. When stirred up, it can irritate the respiratory systems of those who suffer with asthma or allergies.
• Bed bugs are parasitic arthropods that consume the blood of humans and animals. They multiply quickly and are notoriously difficult to eradicate without the aid of a professional exterminator. Bed bugs leave histamine-rich droppings that irritate the respiratory tract, worsening allergic reactions and provoking asthma attacks.

Can Rodents Trigger Asthma?

Rodents (especially household pests like mice and rats) trigger allergies and asthma through their urine, feces, saliva, and dander. Even after rodents have been eradicated, significant amounts of allergens will remain… requiring additional remediation.

Can Pest Control Trigger Asthma?

Certain pesticides can indeed trigger or exacerbate asthma attacks. If you or a member of your household has asthma, it’s important to communicate any concerns to your pest control professional so they can choose the most asthma-safe forms of pest control for your situation.

You may be advised to limit contact with pest control products for a specific period of time after application to reduce the chances of aggravating your asthma. The benefits of eliminating asthma-aggravating pests outweigh the inconvenience of having to leave the target location until pesticides have dried or dispersed.

Twin Forks Pest Control® Cares About Your Health

Twin Forks Pest Control® makes homes and businesses safer for Long Island residents with asthma. We eliminate asthma-causing bugs and rodents, while using the most asthma-safe products available. At the first sign of pests, contact us online or call (631) 287-9020 in Southampton, (631) 324-9020 in Easthampton, or (631) 298-0500 in Southold. If someone at your property has asthma, please let us know so we can take the greatest care to ensure their safety and wellbeing.