OUR INSECT ENEMIES Protecting Your Family From A Hidden Danger

(NAPSI)-In the United States alone, more than 23 million people suffer from asthma, a chronic respiratory disease, including 6.5 million children. For a large portion of these cases, the culprit can be traced back to one particularly nasty source: the cockroach. The link between cockroaches and asthma has been proven in scientific research dating back to the 1970s. Between 78 and 98 percent of urban homes have cockroaches, and 23 to 60 percent of urban residents are allergic to the cockroach allergen, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. “During the past few years, research has shown that cockroach allergens play a big part in the daily lives of asthma sufferers all over the country,” said Dr. Gretchen Phillips, a family medicine physician with Fairview Hospitals and medical show radio host based in Minneapolis. The cockroach allergen is so pervasive in homes around the country that most doctors require patients with persistent asthma to be tested for cockroach allergies in addition to other environmental factors, such as dust mites, mold and pets. In fact, the cockroach allergen can be found in 63 percent of all U.S. households. “Whether I’m talking to patients in a clinic or on the radio, my best medical advice is consistent and simple. It’s all about prevention, prevention, prevention,” Phillips said. Henkel Consumer Goods Inc., the maker of Combat® cockroach and ant bait and gel insecticides, offers these quick and easy tips you can use in your home to help minimize the chance of a cockroach infestation: • Use baits and roach-killing gels, like those from Combat, which will help kill the entire cockroach nest and reduce the presence of the cockroach allergen. • Eliminate clutter, such as stacks of clothes or newspapers, which are perfect nesting areas for cockroaches. • Keep the inside of your home clean and vacuum regularly. Place the vacuum bag in a well-sealed plastic bag and dispose of it in an outdoor container. • Keep food in tightly sealed plastic or glass containers. Do not leave out food or crumbs, and do not leave out pet food. • Seal the cracks and crevices in the walls of your home (including around water pipes and electrical outlets) to keep cockroaches from sneaking in. For more information on preventing a cockroach infestation in your home, visit www.combatbugs.com. Place baits around your home to get to the source of the problem.

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