The Truth About Cockroaches and Asthma
The Truth About Cockroaches and Asthma
When people hear the word “cockroach” it’s most definitely connected to an unpleasant feeling. Naturally, cockroaches are associated with dirt and decay. On top of that, we all know how hard it is to get rid of these nasty insects. For many people, cockroaches may cause of asthma. Thus, knowing about the relationship between cockroach exposure and asthma can be very valuable. Read on to find out the truth about cockroaches and asthma.
When people hear the word “cockroach” it’s most definitely connected to an unpleasant feeling. Naturally, cockroaches are associated with dirt and decay. On top of that, we all know how hard it is to get rid of these nasty insects. For many people, cockroaches are quite possibly a big cause of asthma. Thus, knowing about the relationship between cockroach exposure and asthma can be very valuable. Read on to find out the truth about cockroaches and asthma.
How do Cockroaches Trigger Asthma?
Cockroaches can do a lot more than just crawl around your house. While they’re creeping around, they also eat, molt, and defecate. They’re obviously leaving many things behind, like saliva or droppings. The amount of these excretions depends on the number of cockroaches in your house. What many people fail to realize is that they’re allergic to the excretions the cockroaches leave behind. People who don’t suffer from asthma may simply experience some allergy symptoms such as stuffy noses, coughing or wheezing. On the other hand, people with asthma may start seeing an increase in the number of flare-ups.
Everyone is familiar with the fact that cockroaches carry diseases. Feces, saliva, and cockroach body parts can trigger asthma. These allergens act like dust mites, aggravating symptoms when they are up in the air. Furthermore, cockroaches emit an awful odor. A cockroach’s exoskeleton can worsen asthma symptoms when they are airborne. It turns out that excrement and debris from decomposing cockroach bodies are just the right sizes to be lifted into the air. As these enter the bronchial tubes, the immune system recognizes them as a signal to make an allergic reaction. Not everyone has allergies and asthma, but anyone suffering from wheezing, itchy eyes, itchy nose, or a scratchy throat should visit an allergist or immunologist.
Scientific Research
Not so long ago, important federally-funded research looked for allergy producing substances in the homes of several hundred children with asthma. The research took place in a number of major cities across the United States. They measured the exact amount of cat, dust mite, and cockroach allergens in the bedrooms of the children. The results were quite shocking.The most significant allergen came from cockroaches, and the worst asthma was found in children who had allergic reactions to cockroach allergens. The result was the same for children who were exposed to high concentrations of cockroach allergens in their environment. On the other hand, children in heavily cockroach-infested areas without an allergic sensitivity to cockroaches were not as likely to have severe asthma. Also, children with the tendency for allergic reactions to cockroach parts, in areas with a low amount of cockroach allergens, were less likely to have severe asthma. It was the combination of both the allergic tendency and the allergen exposure that put the children at risk for troublesome asthma, but it is certain that the relationship between cockroaches and asthma exists.
Cockroaches repopulate quickly and thrive in every corner they can get to. They can cause serious health issues for you and your family members. The only way cockroaches can be prevented is with regular pest control treatment. Accurate Termite and Pest Control can get rid of cockroaches for you. Contact us now!
