A.A.B.İç ve Dış Ticaret Ltd. Şti

HEALTH AND HYGIENE

we see life threatening shortness of breath, and even death, as a result of severe asthma. Some of the statistics are frightening. It is estimated that 3.4 million people in the UK suffer from Asthma and similar allergies. Over 100 thousand people are hospitalised every year. There is a death in every 20 minutes.

One creature that is very popular nowadays is the house dust mite. Often described as microscopic, these mites, (which are related to spiders), are approximately 0.3mm long. This is about the size of a full stop on a printed page, but because of their lack of colour they are often classified as invisible. House dust mites have also been implicated in asthma, causing wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Dust mites are hardy creatures who live where skin is most prevalent. They can be found in old clothing, blankets, upholstery, heavy curtains and stuffed animals.

Most humans naturally shed up to 3 grams of dead surface skin a day, some males make an extra contribution of 0.3 g/d in the form of dust from electric shaving. Although it may seem contradictory, it has been found that frequent showering increases skin cell shedding. Other research indicates that the majority of dust in a domestic bathroom is dead shed skin cells, especially after energetic towelling. This also releases the other main dust constituent, towel lint (cotton is a natural, vegetable cellulose product), is another contributor. The dead skin cells indirectly form the diet for the mites. In high humidity conditions, a microscopic fungus grows on the skin cells, and it is this fungus that breaks the skin cells down for the mites to eat. The 20 or so faecal pellets the mites excrete are microscopic (about 5 microns) are very dry and easily broken into even smaller pieces. These can remain continuously suspended in the air and it is these pellets that can cause respiratory problems when inhaled. House dust mites need high humidity levels to provide their food and ideal living and breeding conditions. Controlling humidity has been found to limit mite population. Diligent domestic hygiene, including use of vacuum cleaners with high efficiency filters which prevent the mites and their faeces being blown back into the room air will help.

Millions of people suffer from the sneezing and wheezing of allergies and asthma. Respiratory infections and allergies constitute the greatest stress on the people in most developed societies. Asthma isn't a disease. It is a condition of restricted airways characterized by wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Sometimes the only symptom is coughing. At its most mild, we see the patient who wheezes once in a great while, perhaps when they have a cold or a chest infection. At its most severe,