Can Cockroaches Influence Asthma and Allergies

Cockroaches are more than just an eyesore for your eyes as they scuttle across the kitchen floor in the middle of the night; they can also provoke or contribute to asthma and allergies. Knowing how these pests influence your symptoms and how you can prevent them from taking up residence with you will help you better protect your health in your home, and when to call pest control!

Overview of Asthma

Asthma is a disease that targets the lungs and induces multiple complications with breathing for the affected person, such as episodes of coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath for extended periods of time. The condition can be controlled with medications, but it’s also important for anyone struggling with asthma to recognize and avoid any “triggers” (elements and/or environments) that will cause their asthma to flare-up. These triggers vary from person to person.

Can Cockroaches be an Asthma and Allergy Trigger?

The short answer? Yes, cockroaches can absolutely be and often are an asthma and allergy trigger. As these unsightly creatures crawl through your home, they do much more than make you shudder; unfortunately, they leave a fair amount of things around the house, such as saliva, feces, and exoskeleton sheddings. It’s disgusting, but it’s also a big problem for our respiratory systems. Those allergens behave similarly to dust mites and can trigger both asthma flares and allergies for people who are sensitive to those elements (whether they know it or not). People who don’t have asthma may still experience asthma-like symptoms, as well as stuffy noses, or sinus infections.

Preventing Cockroaches

To protect your home (and your respiratory system) from cockroaches, you have to stamp out any enticement that may draw them into your home and resources that will help them stay. This likely means deep cleaning. Remove any possible food and water sources, such as dirty dishes in the sink, leftover crumbs after meals, leakes, grease stains, unsealed food containers, and overdue trash. Likewise, continue to thoroughly clean areas that cockroaches may be attracted to, such as kitchens, bathrooms, underneath piles of clutter, and behind appliances.

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