Dust Mites & Headaches

Those suffering from migraine or allergy-related headaches know certain factors can trigger pain in the head. One of these factors includes allergy triggers found in the home and, in particular, dust mites that like to nestle in your bed clothing and carpet.

Identification

• Dust mites can cause a headache. A house dust mite is a microscopic bug that lives on dead skin cells that humans and their pets shed. Dust mites don't carry disease, but they can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Dead Skin

• The average person loses 10 g of dead skin a week. This gives dust mites a lot to munch on. Dust mites like to congregate in mattresses and carpeted areas.

Allergies

• When an allergic person is exposed to dust, mold, animal hair, skin or pollen or dust mites, which are allergens, this can make the sinuses swell and this swelling can prompt a migraine by triggering nerves in the brain to react to the change in pressure, according to Everydayhealth.com. The brain receives messages from the nerves that manifest migraine symptoms, including vomiting, dizziness, intolerance of sound and light, head pain and nausea.

Environment

• When the heat in your house is first turned on in late fall or early winter, or after a carpet is vacuumed, this churns up dust mite allergens and releases them into the air, often resulting in headaches, sneezing, sinusitis, a runny nose and ear blockages, according to Healthy-house.co.uk

Prevention/Solution

• Change your bedding frequently, get rid of your carpets and opt for hardwood floors and keep your house temperature lower to increase the humidity. This will help eradicate dust mites.