It has been found that cockroaches can cause asthma when not treated and eliminated from the home.
Dirt. Decay. Disease. These are the words that spring to mind when most folks encounter one of the cockroach species that infest not only California, but our nation and the world. Around the globe, the cockroach is one of the most persistent, and pernicious, pests ever to plague the homes and business of humankind. Apart from destroying property (while being nearly indestructible themselves), spreading disease and, for many people, inducing nausea on sight, roaches bring with them the risks to your home’s air quality and your family’s overall health—especially for those with respiratory issues such as asthma.
Cockroaches and Asthma: Something Wicked This Way Floats
For individuals who are susceptible to airborne contaminants, even a lovely summer breeze can hold a very real danger of serious allergic reaction, complications in existing disease, or even a pulmonary episode that requires hospitalization. And when it comes to pests in the home, the cockroach is one of the worst offenders at generating a noxious and downright nasty group of contaminants that can, should they reach the airways of asthmatics or those with diseases such as emphysema or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, cause bronchial inflammation and difficulty breathing, as well as other allergic reactions such as watery eyes, sneezing, and cough.
The medical journal Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Research estimates that between 40 and 60 percent of allergy sufferers worldwide have antibodies to cockroach waste and debris. The excrement from the insects, as well as their eggs, saliva, and discarded skin, are the primary culprits, and the AAIR also reports that there appears to be a relationship between continuous (i.e., perennial) exposure to these allergens and the development of asthma and other respiratory issues in children.
They also found that cockroach allergens generate a unique, and aggressive, response in the human immune system, indicating that even those without traditional asthma, pulmonary disease, or allergies would benefit from reducing or eliminating their exposure to this ubiquitous source of contaminants.
The takeaway? The sooner cockroaches are eliminated from the home, and the longer they’re kept away from growing children, the less chance those kids will be exposed to a potentially serious factor in the development of lifelong pulmonary issues. And it’s not just children; anyone who has a breathing ailment or sensitivity will likely benefit from giving roaches the boot.
Breathing More Easily
One of the best things you can do to address potential cockroach contamination is to get in touch with your local exterminator. Their expertise is essential to both finding and removing roaches, as well as keeping them from coming back. In addition, you can help improve air quality by installing air filters and cleaners, and reduce roach activity and infestation by making your home as unattractive to roaches as possible.
If you’re dealing with a roach infestation, or simply want to prevent a potentially costly and harmful invasion before it begins, it’s easy to clear the air. Reach out to your friendly neighborhood pest control experts at American Rat Control for a free consultation, and we’ll be happy to work with you to identify your current pest issues, identify risk factors for others, and develop a plan that will help keep your home pest-free—and your family happier, healthier, and breathing easy.
