Allergy in the UK

How allergies affect you:

One in four people in the UK are affected by different types of allergies.
Allergic conditions have increased fourfold in the last twenty years.
One in five children has asthma. 85% of those are also allergic to house dust mites.
We spend 90% of our time indoors.

View our vacuum cleaner range for allergy sufferers.

Dust Mite Fright - Dysons microbiology team reveal some home truths.

If we knew what lurked in our home most of us would probably pack up and leave! Most homes have 2.5 children. And anything up to 2.5 million dust mites. Microscopic in size, dust mites are the homes number one allergen the average bed has up to 10,000 mites living in it. But dont fear; Dysons Microbiology team work around the clock to ensure that Dysons machines are better at capturing and preventing allergens in the home.

What causes allergies?

House dust mite

A common misconception is that the mite itself triggers allergic reactions. In fact, it is the mites twenty poos-a-day habit. Dust mites feed on human and animal skin flakes - with humans losing up to 28g of skin per week (the weight of a bag of crisps!) we produce plenty of three course meals for them to survive.

Pet dander

Pets shed their fur, and although it is not the hair that causes allergic reactions, allergens are found in their saliva which is deposited onto their hair when grooming and also their skin flakes. These can be transferred easily from home to office to school and it is possible for someone who hasnt come into contact directly with an animal to be suffering from pet allergies.

Pollen

Pollen is the most widespread cause of allergy in the UK and causes hay fever. The allergy is caused from pollen from trees and grasses which are tiny, light and dry and can travel miles. Pollen can enter the home through open windows, doors, shoes and clothing and cause irritation to the nose and throat.

Micro organisms

Although there is plenty of friendly bacteria in the home there also lurks potentially harmful organisms such as fungi. Fungi builds up in typical house dust and can be found everywhere in the soil, air, water and food. Although harmless when sitting in the carpet they are providing another source of food for dust mites.

House mould

House mould allergies have been linked to a number of health concerns, including asthma, fatigue and chronic cough. The spores released by the mould can cause allergic reactions. Moulds can be found almost anywhere, although they prefer dark, humid and warm locations.

The most effective vacuum cleaner for allergy sufferers:

A vacuum with good filtration is essential to reducing allergens in the home. Dyson vacuum cleaners use Root Cyclone technology which spins and separates dirt and dust from the air, removing 99.9% of all dirt and dust particles from the airflow, preventing dirt and allergens being released back into the room. The air expelled from a Dyson vacuum cleaner contains up to 150 times less pollen, bacteria and mould spores than the air you breathe.

Particles inside Dysons cyclone technology are subjected to 150,000G - thats 43,000 times faster than a Formula 1 driver enough to kill dust mites.

If you suffer from severe allergies its also important to choose a cleaner that has a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Airflow) filter. Dyson machines contain HEPA 12 filters. This type of filter uses dense material which is highly efficient at trapping small particles. Dyson vacuum cleaners can trap particles with a diameter of 0.1 micron the equivalent size to a particle of cigarette smoke.

All Dyson upright and cylinder vacuum cleaners have the British Allergy Foundation (BAF) seal of approval, but allergy sufferers should look out for the following Dyson vacuum cleaners in particular: British Allergy Foundation Logo