Cockroaches are one of the most troublesome pests found in homes. They cause damage to food, stain furniture and books, and they can be a health hazard for people with asthma. Studies have shown a strong association between the presence of cockroaches and the increase of asthma and allergy symptoms. Cockroaches will infest any structure, clean or not, to escape extreme weather and to find food and water. Using prevention techniques, treatment with pesticides, and a good clean-up afterwards will help reduce the risks of an asthma attack.
Proteins found in cockroach saliva and droppings are what triggers attacks in people with asthma. Another trigger is caused by what some researchers call roach dust. Roach dust is found in the decaying body and body parts of dead roaches.
To get rid of roaches you must eliminate any food and water sources in your kitchen. Clean the kitchen before going to bed because cockroaches look for food at night. Use a small trash can in your kitchen that requires the bag to be emptied each evening. Put away the pet's food for the night and seal up any containers of pet food. Do not leave food out on the counters on dishes and wash off the counter tops to remove all crumbs. Sweep and mop the kitchen floor. Eliminate water sources by draining the sink and wiping up any water from around the sink.
Roaches can be carried in or they can find their own way inside your home. Inspect bags, boxes, furniture, and books before you bring them inside. Seal cracks on the outside of your home at the foundation and around the exterior doors and windows with caulk. Seal areas with caulking or foam around wiring and plumbing that provides an opening around your home. Clear sealants can be used to seal baseboards, molding, and around doors and windows inside your house. Seal your outer doors tight with weather stripping. Beneath cabinets use caulk or foam to seal around drains. Roaches must have water, so you should repair leaking pipes in the house. Eliminating their way in and eliminating their food and water sources will greatly reduce your chances of an infestation.
If you or a family member suffers from asthma and you have a roach infestation there are some effective treatment methods you should follow. Powders are effective treatments for roaches and they do not release irritants in the air like most store-bought pesticides in a can do. Powders usually take a little time to show results, but they can continue to work for a long time after application.
Apply powders where pets and children cannot reach it, behind appliances, under the stove and refrigerator, and in open spaces beneath cabinets. Apply the powder in areas where roaches are active. As roaches hunt for food and water they walk through the powder. The powder sticks to their bodies and the roaches lick it off, poisoning them. Lightly apply the powder, if it is too thick the roaches will avoid it. Most powders come in a plastic squeeze bottle with a narrow tip, making it easy to apply. You can also purchase a powder applicator that helps to apply it properly.
Baits are a safe treatment alternative for people with asthma. Gels, pastes, granules, and dusts are all forms of baits. For heavy infestation, you may want to use baits with powder. But, do not put the powder on the bait and do not spray the powder or bait with an insecticide. Sprays have odors that the roaches will avoid.
Baits contain food that attracts roaches. The baits poison the roaches after they eat the bait. Then the roach returns back to its hiding place and dies. Other roaches eat the body of the poisoned roach and it kills them as well. Apply gel baits in small drops along the baseboards, behind appliances, and along the counter at the back of the countertop, but only at the edges and in the corners. Be careful when cleaning the counter that you don't wipe the area clean and that you don't apply water to the bait. Baits must be kept out of the reach of children and pets and way from food, so be careful not to smear the bait while you clean.
Often, asthma is triggered by roach dust even after the roaches are gone. Clean the house thoroughly by wiping up the roach dust. Use an old, damp cloth that can be thrown away after use. Dead roaches, droppings, and eggs sacks are all evidence you can find after an infestation. The roach dust needs to be vacuumed up and the vacuum bag disposed of. If possible, use a HEPA vacuum cleaner, a HEPA filter, or a water vacuum cleaner to avoid the risk of dust particles going back into the air. If the person doing the cleaning has asthma, he or she should wear a dust mask. Once the roaches are gone and the dust is gone as well, your home will be cleaner, it will smell better, and it will be free of asthma causing irritants.
To fid out how to get rid of roaches in or around your home, please visit www.pestproductsonline.com.
American television programs of the 1950s taught simple axioms such as Clear Fences Make Good Neighbors and If You Don't Have Anything Nice To Say, Don't Say Anything At All. In that simple golden era, severe allergies were extremely rare among the population, so something like a potentially lethal bee sting provided more than enough material for a thirty-minute comedic episode.
Since then, television has become less wholesome, ethics and plotlines more complex, and severe allergies more common. In fact, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that 60 million Americans suffer from allergies, and the CDC and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases both report that the number of Americans with allergies has been on the rise for the last ten years.
Various aspects of the modern lifestyle could be to blame. Some say climate change due to global warming has elongated blooming seasons, creating especially intense periods when different species? pollen release periods overlap. A Harvard University study suggests that trees may also be releasing more pollen in response to increased levels of carbon dioxide. Increased indoor and outdoor pollution, stress, and diets high in processed foods and low in fiber may contribute to higher incidence of allergies. Finally, some follow the ?hygiene hypothesis,? that our increased use of anti-bacterial products has worked all too well: everything in our homes and offices is so free of germs nowadays that our bodies are effectively defenseless against newer, nastier bacteria.
Whatever the cause, as the number of allergy sufferers rises, more and more are opting for naturopathic treatments, and turning away from the quick fixes promised by allergy pills or shots. Some choose naturopathy to avoid irritating side effects. Others have found that homeopathic approaches treat symptoms as well as the underlying causes of their allergies. Scientists aren't yet sure why naturopathic methods can often achieve similar, if not better results, than traditional western medicine, but it may have something to do with the breadth of the naturopathic approach, which considers emotional, mental, and whole-body health, rather than limiting treatment to isolated symptoms.
Unfortunately, without enlisting a professional, it's not always easy to find naturopathic treatments for specific allergies. To help our readers, we've compiled the following treatment information for various allergies.
POLLENS
Whether you know your special pollen allergen or simply explain your rasping cough and red eyes as ?hay fever,? homeopathic methods can help. Many naturopathic experts recommend increasing your fish intake because omega-3 fatty oils have been shown to reduce allergy symptoms. Walnuts, flax seeds, and dark leafy greens are alternative sources of omega-3; a daily supplements are also an option. Try naturopathic eyedrops to naturally soothe itchy, red eyes. Many turn to acupuncture and/or herbs, including nettle and green tea, to knock out their allergies. Flushing the nasal passages regularly with a mixture of warm water and a pinch each of baking soda and sea salt is also a common treatment. Use a spray bottle, nose dropper, or neti pot for application. For a special treat, add a drop of soothing eucalyptus or invigorating tea tree essential oil. Finally, a few precautionary steps, such as regularly cleaning and showering after pollen exposure, could reduce your symptoms.
More Homeopathic Remedies: Arsen Alb, Euphrasia, and Pulsatilla. Essential oils and other applications for each may be found online or at natural food stores.
Molds, Dust Mites and Animal Dander
If you suffer from allergies, your home can be your worst enemy. After all, outside pollens and molds are reduced during cold winter months, but indoor allergens can thrive year-round, an especially nasty prospect given that molds, dust mites, and animal dander are the trigger for many symptoms of asthma. Before you medicate, create a clean, dry environment?without skin dander or moisture, allergens can't survive long. Aim to eliminate as many breeding grounds?such as unnecessary rugs, pillows, and cloth window treatments'as possible. Commit to washing your bedding and remaining rugs in very hot water once a week, along with stuffed animals. Also consider keeping pets out of the bedroom, so that their allergy-inducing dander can't become embedded where you spend half of your life. Last, mattress covers, sometimes called mattress protectors or mattress encasements, are an impenetrable line of defense against allergens, as they effectively block allergens from reaching you and their food supply (your dead skin). These same encasements can be purchased to protect your pillows and crib mattresses as well.
More Homeopathic Remedies: Homeopaths often recommend Arsen Alb, Sabadilla, American Stinging Nettles or Perilla to relieve symptoms associated with dust mite allergies. If, after a clean environment is created in and around your bed, allergies still seem to persist at home, consider asking your doctor or naturopathic expert about taking these supplements.
Both Dennise Brogdon & Ben Anton are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Dennise Brogdon has sinced written about articles on various topics from Gardening, Pet Snakes and Health. Dennise Brogdon is the managing editor of the Hughston Health Alert, a quarterly, patient-information newsletter, and she is an editorial assistant for the National Athletic Trainers? Association's scientific journal, the Journal of Athletic Training. Den. Dennise Brogdon's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.
Ben Anton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Software, Home and Writing. We invite you to visit the CleanRest website to learn more about reducing by protecting mattresses and pillows with. Ben Anton's top article generates over 1220000 views. to your Favourites.