Carpet Fibers Causing Asthma

Low pile carpet has shorter tighter fibers which gives allergens fewer places to hide.

Carpet fibers causing asthma.

It is believed that this exacerbates the symptoms of these conditions. Common allergens such as pollen and dust can get trapped in carpet causing allergic reactions to occur. Signs of an allergic reaction to carpet may include coughing. But many people experience an allergic reaction after a new carpet installation.

Often people assume the fibers of the carpet are what cause the allergic reaction but the fiber whether synthetic or natural is rarely the issue. Carpet has long been regarded as the enemy when it comes to allergies and asthma. Overall the evidence shows that carpet increases airborne pollutants more so than hard floors. If symptoms do not subside with avoidance or cleaning traditional methods of.

New carpet shouldn t contain mold mildew or large amounts of dust or hair which can induce an allergic reaction. Others claim that carpet helps ease allergy suffering by removing irritants from the air and trapping them in its fibers. Carpet fibers trap the particles removing them from the breathing zone and reducing their circulation in the air. Hard surface flooring such as vinyl tile or wood is much easier to keep free of dust mites pollen pet dander and other allergens.

The american college of allergy asthma immunology warns that these irritants can build up in your carpet and that your symptoms can flare up in the immediate hours after vacuuming. Carpeting can be a reservoir for allergy causing substances allergens that trigger asthma. Carpets with long fibers such as shag rugs can harbor more irritants than low pile. One of the best benefits of carpet flooring is that it s comfortable to walk on barefoot.

The shorter the carpet fibers and the more tightly woven they are the less inviting the carpet will be to allergens and the easier it will be to clean. The childhood asthma study concluded that carpet does not cause or increase the symptoms of asthma and allergies. Carpeting in the bedroom can be especially problematic because it exposes you to carpet dust throughout the night. Some people believe that the carpet will increase the amount of irritants in a room.

A great many reputable sources advise allergy and asthma sufferers to remove the carpeting. First if you insist on carpet but haven t picked it out yet do your allergies a favor by choosing one with a short tight weave rather than long loose fibers. Gravity causes common household particles such as dust pollen and pet and insect dander to fall to the floor. Those living with asthma or allergy symptoms have historically been advised to remove all carpet in the home because carpet traps allergens.

But this effect is less common in newer carpets. Itchy skin rashes athlete s foot and eczema are all dirty carpet dangers that can be triggered or made worse by dust mites in unclean carpet. If your carpet is old and dirty however it can cause fungal infections. Earlier studies do indeed show that pollutants like allergens can be harbored inside carpet fibers.