What do roaches and asthma have in common? They can make you very sick.
If you or a loved one has ever suffered from asthma, you understand the panic that can come from a blocked bronchial tube.
But did you realize that the tiny little cockroach could make an asthma affliction flare up?
Let’s look closer at how the common cockroach can exacerbate breathing difficulties in the home and what to do about it.
How Roaches Cause Asthma
Cockroaches are creepy enough on their own, but when you hear this story, you are going to be even more disgusted. First, let’s talk about asthma. Asthma is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes. The Center for Disease Control says there are 18.4 million adults who have asthma and another 6.2 million children afflicted with the disorder.
As people age, their tendency to be vulnerable to the environmental triggers for this disease waxes and wanes. Some are afflicted so strongly by the disorder that medication is their constant companion. Others use an asthma inhaler or other medication only when the disease is triggered.
That’s where the cockroach comes into play. According to scientific research, the debris left behind by roaches is what triggers asthmatic symptoms in some people. Live cockroach excrement and the decay of dead roaches are what causes asthmatics to have an attack. These minute particles sift through the air and can be breathed into the lungs, causing bronchial inflammation and the inability to suck in a full breathe.
A recent study showed that the most common indoor air pollutants in inner-city homes that triggered asthma were cockroaches. The American Lung Association says that even if your home has eliminated a cockroach infestation, the debris can linger in fabrics, the nooks, and crannies of a home, or even in the ductwork that inhabits the walls of your home.
If you or a family member has asthma, it is even more important to keep your home free of cockroaches. Reducing exposure to asthma triggers is a crucial way to maintain the disease. Here are some tips for reducing the chances of potential infestations of cockroaches.
Five Tips for Controlling a Roach Problem
We typically recommend five tips for keeping cockroach debris out of your home by preventing infestations in the first place.
- Keep food debris off the floors and counters. Keeping a clean kitchen is imperative to cockroach control. Store food in airtight containers. Also, always take out any food debris and trash after dinner is done.
- Clean, clean, clean. If asthma is a problem in your household, keeping an immaculate home will also eliminate pet dander and dust mites.
- Control the moisture in the home. Fix any dripping faucets; roaches like a good drink of water with their meal. Keep the humidity in your home no higher than 50% and if there are any leaks around windows, fix them fast.
- Caulk any cracks around doors and windows. Make sure there are no gaps around utility pipes. Even the tiniest of holds can invite roaches in for a visit.
- A professional pest control company like Preventive Pest can help you develop a customized plan to eradicate these pests and keep your home clean and your family comfortable and safe.
