Common Health Risks of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are one of the few house pests that do-little harm at home: They don’t destroy structures, they don’t transfer deadly diseases, and they’re small enough to not be noticed by anyone in the house. Prevent most infestations with fuze bug.
But even though they’re not as harmful as other pests, they still pose harm to one’s health, lifestyle and home furnishings. And if left alone, can do considerable damage to a person’s health over time. Here are four health risks that bed bugs bring:
1. Infection from scratches
Bed bug bites can be very itchy, leading to the strong urge to scratch it until the itch goes away. And because bed bugs often bite in the middle of the night when we’re asleep, we unconsciously scratch them, leading to flesh wounds in the morning.
Small open wounds from continuous scratching may not be a big deal, but germs and bacteria can enter the wound and cause an infection if left untreated. Expanding redness around the wound, increased swelling, tender bumps that are warm to the touch are just some symptoms of a bacterial skin infection. Some common skin infections include cellulitis, Impetigo and boils.
2. Allergic reaction to bites
An allergic reaction to bed bug bites is one of the more serious health risks of having a bed bug infestation. Because bed bugs bite to feed on their host’s blood, some people might experience severe allergic reaction after being bitten, leading to life-threatening situations.
People who are hypersensitive to insect bites and stings could end up in anaphylactic shock, which is an extreme allergic reaction followed by wheezing, tightness in the chest, Swollen or itchy lips or tongue, and tightness in the throat. Anaphylactic shock is often life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
3. Sleep deprivation
If a bed bug infestation within the house becomes too problematic, it can lead to sleep deprivation. The numerous bites, never-ending itch and thought of crawling bugs around is bound to keep anyone up all night, leaving them exhausted physically and mentally the following day.
Sleep deprivation can lead to accidents, impaired thinking, heart diseases, and loss of appetite. In severe cases, this can cause poor work performance and even cause family problems and arguments.
4. Stress
Living in a bed bug infested household can be very stressful and frustrating because of the quick spread of bed bugs around the home, recurring damage to bedsheets and curtains, and constant biting on the body. Living in a stressful environment for long periods of time can lead to a lot of emotional anxiety, which may then lead to health problems.
Emotional anxiety caused by stress can lead to unhealthy behavior and habits like drinking and smoking, may impact on our immune system and its ability to fight off antigens, making us more prone to all kinds of infections. Stress can also increase heart rate and blood pressure, as well as affect our digestive system. All this combined can increase the risk of catching harmful diseases.
When compared to mosquitos that bring deadly and life-threatening diseases like Zika and dengue, or rodents that can spread leptospirosis which can result in liver and kidney damage, bed bugs are the least harmful and only do minor damage. But the little damages they cause accumulate over time, and eventually pose a health risk. So, when you start to see clear and obvious signs of a bed bug infestation, you might be facing quite a serious bed bug infestation.
Make sure to contact your local pest-control professional to help rid of these bug issues and save yourself from these unnecessary health risks.
I read that among animals – dogs – yawning is a social calming signal meaning: “hey, calm down”. I tested it with a cat and a dog, both will yawn when I fastly move towards them. If a dog yawns in return to his fellow yawning, it means “I accept your request and I calm down”. Maybe humans do the same at times?
This calming signals thing as concerns dogs seemed to me not totally scientifically proven… but in practice I tested it and it worked.
Thank you so much for summing up the research there. I have been wondering abuot this for ages, as well as the hiccups! Love your blog!
I once read there was a link between those in the human population who empathise and yawning. Never believed it to be true, although imagine if it was! Great read.
Hahaha I yawned just reading the title! :O
While reading this I ended up yawning 3 times. Though I yawned before I started reading also, probably because I am tired right now.
Now I know I know… fer sure…
*Yawning*… couldn’t stop yawning!
It is a mystery. Even the photo made me yawn!
I’ve yawned twice while reading this… oops make that three times. Seriously. It’s totally contagious. Love this post! Thank you for liking my blog posts!
This post made me yawn…NOT because it’s boring, but the pics just made me yawn.
HA! I really enjoyed this. Thank you for the smile at this unusual approach to information
~Julius P.
Great blog, the facts are as i had always believed. There is another one that`s contagious and that is an itch. sit next to a group and scratch,before long most of them will be doing the same as they think they also have an itch.
Yawning is so contagious, and it only takes one person to start it off. Great article!
I think all science is just theory! a bunch of random guessing. every stupid study they do, they pull only the “facts” that they want to be there, and use those to make their point. and by the way, I just yawned!!! hahahahaha
I thought the person yawning was bored…just saying.
Great Post!
I can’t think of a better post to read first thing on a Monday morning!
Now for some coffee so I can stop yawning
I could hazard a guess as to why we yawn. Physiology of the human body fascinates me as did your post. I’ve heard many different reasons as well as to why we yawn, but the need for oxygen in the blood seems the most succinct. When we rest, our metabolism slows. Our breathing slows and when we suddenly decide to move, our muscles have more need of oxygen than they did in the restive state. It’s a oxygen deficit response in the body. If we are restive and reading, our brain needs the oxygen and it’s why I can’t stop yawning when I’m studying in or sitting in class learning. However, it’s only a semi-unconscious response to the oxygen depletion and as you said, thinking it can trigger it. So, when one person yawns and another witnesses it, the first yawn makes the others think of the yawn which triggers their response as well.
To fall asleep, we have only but relax. Once our metabolism and brain function reach as certain lasitude, we fall asleep. Because of this, the amount of oxygen we take in is low. However, as we near sleep, our subconscious becomes more active, requiring additional oxygen as it sub-stimulates the mind causing us to yawn. The only flaw in my observation that I can see, is that why we sleep, we never yawn, but this could possibly mean that it is a higher brain function which is available only when we are awake and is unavailable when we are asleep.
Interesting article my friend. I enjoyed it immensely.
An interesting article and the photos are funny too. All I know is this…, I always ‘feel good’ when I yawn, it’s a very relaxing behavioural response. If I see someone yawning, I tend to take on some of their energy too. For example, if they are yawning because they feel tired, funnily enough I start feeling tired.. Or if they yawn in a way that conveys they are relaxed, then I tend to feel relaxed in their company too. It’s very catchy!
I learned this years ago in my Physiology class. Wow! Thanks for reminding me! Great post!
I was always told that people yawn to get oxygen to the brain….. that is what i always thought
LOL I instantly yawned when I read the headline.
Thanks for the fun information!
LMAO.. IYou learn something new everyday, Thanks to reaching Utopia for liking most post, The Social Shall inherit the Earth.
LOL..infact I gave it a try – thought about yawning and then actually yawned almost at once! Nice piece…