Over two million Australians have asthma – about one in 10 adults and about one in 10 children, according to Asthma Australia. On average, more than one Australia dies from an asthma-related attack every day.
“People who suffer from asthma and allergies not only live with the effects of these conditions, but it also impacts the whole family, regardless of whether it’s the parents or the children who suffer,” says Dr Ginni Mansberg, a GP and family health expert.
“Asthma can be debilitating. I have seen how this can affect the whole family. Sufferers are often looking for simple solutions to assist in managing their condition.”
One such solution has been developed by Australia’s leading pillow manufacturer, Tontine, which has come up with the Tontine Sleep Angel pillow.
Mould and dust mites, which contain a number of extremely potent allergens, can trigger an asthma attack, allergies and other respiratory diseases. These nasties love to grow in pillows from the warmth and moisture we sweat from our bodies, using nutrients from dead skin cells. With only one person in the bed, the amount of sweat produced each night is normally around 250ml. If there is more than one person in the bed, it can be as much as 500ml per person.
“Bugs and allergens found in pillows can trigger an asthma attack or allergies in some people and this pillow assists in keeping these common triggers out of the pillow,” says environmental consultant Dr Heike Neumeister-Kemp, CEO of Mycologia Australia.
Dr Neumeister-Kemp found that the Tontine Sleep Angel pillow has a filter which helps prevent the access of bugs and bacteria into the pillow, thus limiting the exposure to the effects caused by these contaminants.
“Having a pillow which stops bugs and allergens from entering it and breeding, in addition to a surface which can be easily wiped down on a regular basis, is a great simple way of reducing these triggers”, explainsDr Mansberg.
According to Asthma Australia, living well with asthma means less symptoms and being able to do the things you enjoy.