Dust mite information site for people with asthma, rhinitis or eczema.

Sleep environment and quality of life

Most of us were conceived in bed, born in a bed, spend approximately 25 years in bed, and will probably die peacefully in a bed. Three most important functions to human life, heartbeat, breath and sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep is using common sense, you cannot find sleep, sleep has to find you.

Time asleep for an adult can average from 3 to 11 hours depending upon personal needs. This is considered normal. But to loose one hour of normal sleep can impact upon performance during the day. Chronic deprivation of sleep can affect quality of life.

In our culture we tend to share our beds with our partners. During sleep an adult will move between 40 to 60 times. We shed skin scales, perspire and take into our beds pollen, bacteria, fungi and mould. All of which can be trapped in a mattress and bedding. Research scientists from Oxford University investigated life in a mattress and found these in abundance plus colonies of house dust mites that survive by scavenging on this debris. A progressive build up of this debris can lead to poor sleeping conditions and a disruption of sleeping patterns affecting one partner or both. The recognized barriers to improvements in quality sleep have been listed as:

* Poor communication between carers or partners
* Failure to appreciate the nature of disturbance
* Poor sleep hygiene
* Failure to comprehend treatment
* Lack of suitably qualified health professional to implement treatment

Poor sleep can cause;
Adults Children

Poor concentration Sleepiness

Reduced productivity Falling behind in school

Fatigue, feeling worn out Altered moods or bouts of

Depression Depression / inattentive

Restless Anxious

Irritable Behavior problems

Frequent micro-arousals with actually awakening or altering conventional sleep stages shorten quality sleep resulting in reduced quality of life. For children it can be manifest as behavior problems such as parent and child conflict, poor relationships, and or diminished academic performance. Developing children are most at risk from the affects of poor sleep as they may be unaware of a problem and therefore have no concept of seeking a solution. Many of these children may consider their state as personally ‘normal’ and suffer in silence. Self-esteem is at risk. Persistent sleeplessness in children should not be seen as inevitable but as treatable and often preventable. Excessive daytime sleepiness must not be mistaken for laziness or disinterest, but as a condition for which treatment is available. Accurate diagnosis and effective management of sleep disorder from infancy to old age is required for wellbeing.

If exposure to house dust mites may be a problem for your child, listen to what the experts say. “Removing dust mites to reduce allergic response in sensitive children may enhance their personal development and improve learning, memory, attendance, concentration and academic performance.” “Compared with matched controls, children with asthma had significantly more disturbed sleep, tended to have more psychological problems, and they performed less well on some tests of memory and concentration.” “Sleep hygiene is mainly concerned with ensuring that the sleeping environment is conducive to sleep, encouraging regular sleeping routines and avoiding influences likely to make it difficult to get to sleep and sleep soundly”

Similar pages

1. Children at risk from dust mite allergy and poor sleep
2. 2007 – Commonly treated chronic rhinitis impairs quality of life

‘Clinical Services for sleep disorders’, Archives of Disease in Childhood, 1998:79:495-497 Stores G, Wiggs L
Learning, School Performance, and Children with Asthma: How Much at Risk?

Journal of Learning Disabilities, Vol 26. No. 1, Jan. 1993.p 23-32

Celano M.P, Geller R.J.
‘Sleep and psychological disturbance in nocturnal asthma’

Stores G, Ellis A J, Crawford C, Thomson A, Archives of Disease in Childhood,

1998, Vol.78, No 5 P413-419