Is there any evidence to suggest that anti-allergy bedding actually helps with asthma at night? I've had allergy testing and dust/dust-mites aren't a problem but I'm getting really fed up with the occasional nurse/hospital consultant I come across who can be quite dismissive and suggest I just change my bedding/get special allergy pillows etc. I'm thinking of getting them, just so I can say, yep, done that.
I live in student halls where the bedding, pillows, duvets etc are all provided and laundered for us so they may be quite old/dusty. I've been given permission to buy my own (there's fire regulations etc that can be a problem) but I don't want to waste my money if it won't make any difference.
If they're helpful, are the cheapest brands ok because there seems to be a huge variation in price/claims/etc.
Is your asthma worse at night? I'm sure I've seen something on the site about a study which showed they didn't have much impact. I try to make sure I wash my bedding at 60 degrees and did change duvets at first to one without feathers but when I got the new duvet I got one with feathers as there was no difference.
You could try extra pillows - being propped up helps my breathing and I try to sit up if I'm reading in bed.
Pillows, you can get anti allergy pillows but you need the anti dust mite covers on them too with zips to stop the critters taking up residence in the pillow.
Ditto for matress.
Ditto for Duvet if you can hack sleeping under a crisp packet! ( Mine had been evicted until it can be washed and softened.
There are a variety of covers out there - the best ones are close weave or the breathable material like gore-tex. Also, you can buy very cheap pillows and renew them every 3 months.
I am sure that all bedding must comply to fire regs!
Though if you aren't accually allergic to dust mite poo there may be no difference apart from having cleaner bedding. though you could try it and see as allergy tests aren't always 100% accurate.
Kate
I have tried anti allergy bedding, put protecters on everything, and for me it didn't make an ounce of difference. But I sling pillows (i buy cheap ones) every 3 months because it takes 4 months for a pillow to become fully colonised by our darling little friend the dustmite and its poo.
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